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About Us
Our Purpose In 1970 the Association was formed to sponsor and build a monument (138k image) in Washington, DC to honor those Seabees who had given their lives in the defense of their country, and to create a scholarship fund. Today, the Association's purpose is to provide scholarships for sons, daughters, and grandchildren of Seabees, both past and present, active, reserve, or retired. Since 1970, the Association, through the generosity of its supporters, has provided approximately 1196 scholarships to Seabee dependents seeking higher education. In addition, both the value and number of scholarships awarded each year has increased over the past years, from $500 to $1,500, and from 6 to 94 scholarships. The SMSA desires to support as many applicants as possible and continuously explores ways of increasing the scholarship fund. As the fund grows, the Association's intention is to increase the value and numer of scholarships awarded. Who Qualifies Children and grandchildren of Regular, Reserve, retired, or deceased officers or enlisted members who have served or who are now serving with the Naval Construction Force (Seabees), or Naval Civil Engineer Corps are eligible. Children and grandchildren of former members who have served with Seabee units (enlisted or Civil Engineer Corps), and who have been honorably discharged are also eligible. Scholarship awards are based on financial need, character, good citizenship, leadership, and scholastic record. The applicant must currently be a senior in high school, a high school graduate, or currently enrolled full time in a four year college or university. Scholarship awards are not granted for graduate study. Scholarships are not available for great grandchildren of Seabees or for spouses of Seabees who are not children or grandchildren of Seabees. How To Apply The Seabee Memorial Scholarship Association scholarship application is the only form to be used to apply for the scholarship. Download or request an application. Completed applications and supporting documents should be submitted no later than April 15th of each year, unless otherwise announced, to the Seabee Memorial Scholarship Association, P.O. Box 6574, Silver Spring, Maryland 20916. Funding the Scholarships Many reserve, active, retired, and former Seabees, friends of Seabees, and private businesses make financial contributions to the SMSA. Federal employees may contribute through the annual Combined Federal Campaign. Funds are also raised through sales of the Seabee calendars and posters. The SMSA also gratefully encourages all members to keep in mind during their estate planning that additional support through trusts, wills, bequeaths, life insurance assignments, etc. would significantly enable the expansion of the Scholarship Program. All contributions are tax deductible. A new program for an Endowment Accumulation Account is also available to build significant gifts over time. How You Can Help The generous support and contrubutions of individuals and corporations has contributed to the growth of the Association. You can be a part of that growth. Here's how:
To learn more about the Seabee Memorial Scholarship Association, or to forward you tax-deductible gift made payable to the SMSA, please write to the Seabee Memorial Scholarship Association, P.O. Box 6574, Silver Spring, Maryland 20916. The Association deeply appreciates your interest and support. Association Structure Members of the Association include all Seabees and friends of the Seabees who have contributed funds toward the Association's purpose. Each member receives a newsletter published periodically to keep them advised of the Association, and a copy of the annual Seabee calendar. The Board of Directors is comprised of retired, reserve, and active duty officers and Seabees, as well as the Master Chief of the Seabees, and the National Commander of the Seabee Veterans of America. The Scholarship Committee consists of the Master Chief of the Seabees, an officer, two senior enlisted men, a female representative for the Navy Wives' Club, and a member of the Seabee Veterans of America. This Scholarship Selection Board meets in May to review and award scholarships for the following year. The Seabees: A History The Beginning: World War II Conceived by Admiral Ben Moreell, the Seabees were established in 1942 at Quonset Point, Rhode Island, shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. By the summer of that year the first Seabee units were engaged in construction and combat. From the construction and defense of Henderson Field on Guadalcanal to the Normandy Invasion, the "CAN DO" Seabees participated in every major amphibious assault in World War II. More than 325,000 men served with the Seabees in World War II, fighting and building in more than 400 locations before the war's end. With the general demobilization following World War II, the "Bees" were all but disbanded with only 3,300 men on active duty in June 1950. Newly established Mobile Construction Battalions (MCB's) had duty in Cuba and throughout the Pacific. Korea and Vietnam In Korea, as in World War II, the "CAN DO" spirit shone again. Landing at Inchon, Seabees provided pontoon causeways within hours of the initial assault. Following Korea the Seabees embarked on the largest earth moving project in Seabee history by building the Naval Air Station at Cubi Point, Philippines. The Seabees numbered 10,000 men in May of 1965 when the first battalions went across the beach at Chu Lai, Republic of Vietnam. During the peak of the conflict, Seabee strength reached 25,000 men in 22 battalions, two regiments, two maintenance units, and scores of Civic Action Teams. Nearly $100 million worth of construction was placed by over 3 million man-days of effort. The types of jobs ranged from the construction of logistical complexes in DaNang and Chu Lai to Special Forces camps in remote regions. It was at Dong Xoai that Petty Officer Marvin Shields was awarded the Seabees' first and only Medal of Honor. From the island-hopping of World War II, the cold of Korea, and the steaming jungles of Vietnam, to today, Seabees have built cities, paved thousands of roads, and constructed numerous airstrips in the four corners of the world. Seabees have served side by side with the Marine Corps and the Army, building and defending what they built. Today's Seabees Today the Seabees perform peacetime construction and train to be ready when called upon again. Seabees deploy throughout the world in Europe, the Caribbean, Japan, and Guam. Major Seabee training, logistic, and home port facilities are located at Port Hueneme, California, and Gulfport, Mississippi. Eight active MCB's are home-ported at these facilities. In addition, two Amphibious Construction Battalions (ACB's) and two Underwater Construction Teams (UCT's) are located on each coast. Two thirds of the Naval Construction Force are reservists. The Seabee reserves are organized into 12 battalions, two support units, and four regiments located throughout the United States. Hurricane recovery in Charleston, South Carolina, and Puerto Rico and earthquake recovery in San Francisco in 1989, and Hurricane Andrew recovery in 1992 demonstrated the disaster recovery skills in the Seabee repertoire. During Operation Desert Shield/Storm, Seabees built advanced bases, constructed air fields with hardstands for Marine aircraft, provided petroleum and water facilities, and accompanied the Marines into Kuwait. Active and reserve battalions served in-country and in other support locations worldwide. Operation Desert Shield/Storm, the largest recall of Reserve Seabees since the Vietnam conflict, emphasized the success of "One Navy" concept. Seabees continue to serve the nation through recent participation in the UN peace keeping activities in Somalia and Bosnia, and by assisting with Haitian refugee support. |
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