A Jeep's-Eye View of the Seabees in Action

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Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

THE SUN NEVER SETS ON THE MIGHTY JEEP

A JEEP'S-EYE VIEW OF THE SEABEES IN ACTION
A true incident of JEEPS from WILLYS-OVERLAND in the battle of the South Pacific

IN the essential and dangerous work of war, the Navy Seabees-those busy, buzzing worker-fighters-are writing heroic history today.

The incident illustrated here is typical of war as the Seabees find it, and as a Seabee whose buddy made the supreme sacrifice, actually saw it:-

* * *

"We had occupied this little island in the Solomons a few days before. All our equipment-our cranes, steam shovels, graders, bulldozers, trucks, a fleet of Jeeps, guns, materials, tools-everything needed to do our job-had been put ashore without opposition.

"In fact, we had the runway of the new air field leveled off, and about a third of the steel mat laid, before anything happened. It was really beginning to get us-just waiting.

"Then one day hell broke loose. An 'alert' brought us to our feet with a jerk. We could hear the roar of low-level Jap bombers. It had been raining and they were coming over the air field right out of the glare of the sun. Bombs began falling and machine guns popping. Then there was a crash and we could see that a direct hit had blasted a big hole right in the middle of our steel matting.

"That was bad. It would keep our own fighters from going aloft to intercept the Japs. Larry-that's my buddy-and some more of us, piled into a couple of Jeeps with our repair stuff, and tore for the still smoking crater.

"Just as we got there we heard the Japs coming back. We were caught flat-footed-all but Larry. He dove into a nearby machine gun pit. Two Zeros with their machine guns blazing were headed straight for him. He could have ducked, but he didn't. He just trained his gun on the lowest of the Japs and let her go. We could see his bullets cutting a pattern in the Jap's fuselage. Then there was a puff of black smoke, a burst of red hot flame, and the Zero crumpled, and crashed in the cocoanut palms at the end of the runway.

"Larry saved our hides that day. We made the repair, our planes were able to go up and control the sky, and the base was completed in record time.

"But they got Larry a few days later when they bombed a pontoon barge loaded with gasoline, on which he was working. He had what we call 'Seabee guts'!"

* * *

The records show that "Larry,"..............., Seaman Second Class, in recognition of conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of regular duty, was posthumously awarded the Silver Star Medal. He was the first Seabee to receive this citation.

It is a great satisfaction to us that Willys-built Jeeps are considered an essential part of the equipment of the Seabees (Construction Battalion). These courageous men-the newest branch of Navy service-contribute their skill and experience as surveyors, electricians, carpenters, iron workers, masons, riveters, welders, plumbers, etc., etc. and risk their lives day after day, to build, maintain, and protect when necessary, air bases, docks, barracks, roads, etc., for our fighting forces-anywhere. Our hats are off to these courageous builders-these "busy bees of the Seven Seas."

WILLYS
JEEPS, MOTOR CARS AND TRUCKS

The heart of every fighting Jeep in the world-and the source of its amazing power, speed, flexibility, dependability and fuel economy-is the Willys "Go-Devil" Engine, the design of which was perfected and is owned exclusively by Willys-Overland.

BUILD FOR VICTORY - JOIN THE SEABEES
Inquire at any U. S. NAVY RECRUITING STATION

Printed in small type; read from a 2000 px scan, a few words may differ slightly.