US Navy SeaBees -My Grandpa's Scrapbook

[Bill T]

Hey Guys,
I decided to share something that is very special to me. It is my Grandfathers ww2 scrapbook. He grew up in the US and his father and His older brother were BOTH in the Navy during ww2. I am still researching more thoroughly about his fathers service, but his older brother Frank (Francis) H. Barnes was a Seaman First Class of Company 'A' USN 37th Construction Battalion aka- the SeaBees, who was part of the Pacific Fleet. The 37th Construction Bttln built Airstrips, delivered supplies/ammo, and other important duties to keep the Allied forces in the fight. Franks company regularly performed these tasks while under fire from Japenese forces. He specifically recalled helping build an airstrip on New Caledonia. Other places he remembers serving were Munda, Bouganville, and others in the Solomon Islands. (I know there are more, but I cant find the paper where I wrote the names)
Anyway, My grandfather (franks little brother) kept a very detailed scrapbook back at home. He started keeping letters from his brother Frank and from his Father each time they would write home to him. In the letters he begs them to send a new postcard with a different image on the front each time they write. haha. He would also keep his eyes glued to the newspapers and radio to try and keep record of anything his brother and Dad were related to. A couple of the letters have censor marks, as the US monitored every peice of mail to keep troop movements discrete. He kept anything sent home to him from them as well. There are ALOT of letters and too many to go through and find a good one right now. But there are also Photos of dead Japanese soldiers, things the Seabees built, etc. that are being found by my grandfather as we speak that will be added to the group since Frank has unfortunately passed away recently.

I hope you enjoy this. Its just a neat veiw into the eyes of a kid who has his brother and Dad in the war. ( I believe his Dad was at training or just out of training at this time, so not much info on him) Something to keep Frank Barnes' memory alive. RIP

[Bill T]

Some neat Insignia page my Grandpa attatched



Some Ration Cards + letter

[Bill T]

another insignia page he attatched



letters dated 1943

[Bill T]

A great image from a newspaper showing a USNavy SeaBee with shovel.

Plus an awesome propaganda note up above so you can read if desired
(CLICK TO ENLARGE)

[Bill T]

some postcards and photo. Check out the Sherman Tank Stamp haha

[Bill T]

All Postcards have writing on reverse



check out the John Wayne things he attatched?

[Bill T]

this is a little Flip Booklet that seems to show what the Seamen are learning

[Bill T]

pages in the booklet

[Bill T]

entering the solomons

[Bill T]

So thats the scrapbook. There are alot more letters, but yoy get the point. I know its not the most valuable item, but its my favorite item in my whole collection. Hopefully someone will enjoy it.