Naval History and Heritage Command
U.S. Navy Seabee Museum
Find my Seabee Records
How To Find Historic Materials in our Online Reading Room
![<p>Seabee with NMCB-40 repairing an orphanage in Somalia as part of Operation Restore Hope as Somalian children look on, [January 1993].</p>](/content/history/museums/seabee/about-us/looking-for-historic-information-on-a-seabee/_jcr_content/body/media_asset/image.img.jpg/1640625277552.jpg "<p>Seabee with NMCB-40 repairing an orphanage in Somalia as part of Operation Restore Hope as Somalian children look on, [January 1993].</p>")
Are you looking for historic materials on your service or a former Seabee's time in the Navy? This page is designed to help you start your research and easily locate materials.
What to know before you begin:
The U.S. Navy Seabee Museum archive maintains the records of Seabee units, not the records of the individual people, and cannot look up which units they served in. You will need to know what unit(s) the veteran served in before we can assist you. If you need a copy of their service records and separation papers, request them from the National Archives.
Once you know the unit(s) or if you already know the unit(s), read more about them at:
Conducting Research into World War II Seabees
Building the Navy's Bases during WWII - This is a great general information history of Seabee construction during WWII that will tell you where the veteran served and the construction done at each base.
Additional publications that you might find informative:
Seabee News Service – The Bureau of Yards and Docks created the Seabee News Service, a semi-monthly news service, during World War II in order to encourage battalions to publish their own newspapers and assist those already publishing by providing content. The purpose of the news service was to acquaint Seabees both abroad and at home with the accomplishments of their comrades and the vital work being done by battalions throughout the world.
The Seabees – booklet on Seabee rates during WWII
Conducting Research into Vietnam Era Seabees
Building the Navy’s Bases in Southeast Asia by Richard Tregaskis
Seabee Magazine - National Seabee Veterans of America created The SEA BEE in 1962 and, soon after, it became the official magazine of the Seabee Community. The magazine ran until 1968 and was the main source of Seabee construction information through the Vietnam Conflict. In 2002, the former Beeline publication was redesigned, rebranded and re-launched as SEABEE Magazine in 2003. SEABEE Magazine ran until 2012 when it changed to an online edition only.
Conducting Research into Post-Vietnam Era Seabees
Deployment Completion Reports/After Action Reports
The Beeline - In 1992, the Reserve Naval Construction Force created the Beeline, a publication covering all things Seabee, which ran until 2002. The former Beeline was redesigned, rebranded and re-launched as SEABEE Magazine in 2003.
Seabee Magazine - National Seabee Veterans of America created The SEA BEE in 1962 and, soon after, it became the official magazine of the Seabee Community. The magazine ran until 1968 and was the main source of Seabee construction information through the Vietnam Conflict. In 2002, the former Beeline publication was redesigned, rebranded and re-launched as SEABEE Magazine in 2003. SEABEE Magazine ran until 2012 when it changed to an online edition only.
Still looking for more Seabee History?!
Explore our online reading room to discover little known Seabee history facts and read more in-depth essays on Seabee and Civil Engineer Corps history.
Or email us at NHHC-USNSMreference@us.navy.mil and one of the staff archivists will answer your request within 10 business days.
