WWII USN DIVER "BOOM MAN" - Fighting 40th SEABEES

[Salvage Sailor]

Aloha Everyone,

 

I've had this grouping for quite a while and thought about posting it in the field gear section but here is where it will reside.

 

These items on the following pages belonged to a USN Demolition Diver assigned to Company A, 4th Platoon, Naval Construction Battalion 40, the renowned "Fighting 40th" of the SEABEES. He served in all of their campaigns in the Pacific theater during their two tours of duty from 1942 to 1945.

 

40TH BATTALION SEABEES

 

The 40th was activated at Davisville, R. I. in November 1942, and sailed on Christmas Day of that year for overseas duty. The Battalion arrived at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, Feb. 3. 1943, and was stationed there until Nov. 25, when they sailed for Finschaven, New Guinea, by way of Noumea and Milne Bay. The entire Battalion arrived at Finschaven by Dec. 22, 1943. The 40th moved again the next February. when the first echelon shipped out for Los Negros, in the Admiralties (opposed combat landing). The second and third echelons moved on in March 1944, and joined the rest of the Battalion at Los Negros. The 40th remained there until July 21, 1944, when they returned to Noumea, New Caledonia. On Sept. 3, the outfit embarked at Noumea and headed for the States, arriving at Camp Parks Sept. 18. The second tour of duty for the 40th began Feb. 1. 1945, when the Battalion left Parks and sailed for Saipan. After a short stay in the Marianas base, the Battalion moved on to Okinawa, where it was still on duty at the war’s end.

 

During the fighting in the Admiralties alongside the 1st Cavalry Division, the 40th Battalion had 29 SEABEES killed in action and was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation.

 

1 Navy Cross, 3 Silver Stars, 1 Legion of Merit, 1 Bronze Star, 6 Soldiers Medal, 2 Navy Marine Medal, 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster (British) and 45 Purple Hearts.

 

Navy Cross Citation - Chief Pharmacist's Mate Ellis Harry Shields

 

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Chief Pharmacist's Mate Ellis Harry Shields, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and conspicuous devotion to duty while serving as a Medical Corpsman with FORTIETH Naval Construction Battalion (Seabee), attached to a task force during the invasion of the Admiralty Islands on 4 March 1944. Chief Pharmacist's Mate Shields left his foxhole against orders to administer to the wounded and dying. He was killed while returning to his foxhole after giving first aid to the wounded. By his courage and efforts in behalf of others at great risk to his own life, Chief Pharmacist's Mate Shields undoubtedly saved many lives, and his steadfast devotion to duty throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

 

[Salvage Sailor]

The 40th Battalion sailed to the New Hebrides aboard the Attack Transport USS WILLIAM P. BIDDLE (AP-15). During their voyage the transport was reclassified as (APA-8)

 

USS William P. Biddle (AP-15) reached Hampton Roads on 30 November and received repairs and alterations at the Norfolk Navy Yard between 6 and 17 December; fueled at Craney Island, and shifted to local Army embarkation piers on the 18th to embark the men and gear of Construction Battalion 40 (Seabees). Standing out of Hampton Roads two days after Christmas of 1942 as part of TF 39, William P. Biddle headed south; transited the Panama Canal on 3 January 1943; and made port at Nouméa, New Caledonia, on 27 January. Pushing on two days later, the ship then called at Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides from 3 to 5 February before she headed for home. During that period, on 1 February, William P. Biddle was reclassified an attack transport, APA-8.

 

This is the Shellback Certificate of BOOM MAN, Construction Man Third Class (CM3c) Donald George Christenson, Navy Diver.

 

 

The Shellback Certificate is on the 1929 form, hand lettered commemorating the crossing on January 10th, 1943 bound for Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides Islands. It was given to Christenson on April 20th, 1943

 

 

The voyage and the first tour of the 40th Battalion, including the Los Negros battle where they used their bulldozer blades to shield the attackers from Japanese fire, is detailed here in their cruise book posted on the Naval Heritage site. It also has photos of A Company, 4th Platoon and lists Christenson on the roster

 

Excellent photos and campaign history https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/museums/Seabee/Cruisebooks/wwiicruisebooks/ncb-cruisebooks/40%20NCB%201942-44.pdf

 

There's also a photo of a navy diver in an airline mask but it is not named

 

FIGHTING FORTY

 

World War II set the stage for the birth of NMCB FORTY—the ensuing island hopping from one Pacific theater combat zone to another earned the battalion its title, "Fighting FORTY". The battalion's first campaign in the New Hebrides included among other construction tasks the challenge of building an airstrip through solid coral. "Fighting FORTY" completed this project in 1943 and went on to build additional support facilities. As the pace of the war mounted, an advance party from NMCB FORTY landed with the U.S. Armys 1st Cavalry as the first assault troops on the beach at Los Negros Island. During a fierce Japanese counterattack, FORTY Seabees dug in with Army troops on their defensive perimeter. After the fury of the attack subsided, FORTY returned to the job of rehabilitating the airstrip which it soon completed. General MacArthur awarded the battalion the Army's Distinguished Unit Badge, and President gave them the Presidential Unit Citation for their part in the battle. In 1944, "Fighting FORTY" returned home, regrouped and sailed again into the Pacific in late 1944. Port calls were made at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Eniwetok Island; and Tanapay Harbor, Saipan. In 1945, the battalion sailed for Okinawa one week after Easter and immediately began the work of rebuilding the island's main supply routes. The battalion fought enemy forces and endured two major typhoons during its deployment to Okinawa. Following the close of World War II, "Fighting FORTY" joined the ranks of many other Seabee battalions that were decommissioned as part of post-war drawdown.

 

The 40th earned the Presidential unit citation on Los Negros Island. Special mention was made of the bulldozers going into the teeth of the enemies positions on 2 March 1944. Ref. Battle Honors citation dated 5 July 1944 by order of G. C. Marshall and signed by James Alexander Ulio, Major General, Adjutant General.

 

BOOM MAN's Boom Box - USN Tool Box, battered and paint splattered from the Pacific campaigns from the Admiralties to Okinawa.  Stenciled CHRISTENSON D.G.

 

 

 

 

 

....and his 'liberated' fight bag that once belonged to a USAAC Corporal, Baker EDWARD M. ZAJAC

 

 

I don't know how he acquired this bag, but I looked up Zajac and it was his. Positive ID on the name and serial number, overpainted in blue paint by Christenson

 

D.G. CHRISTENSON

40TH BATT.

U.S. NAVY

BOOM MAN

 

 

Reverse of Zajac's bag, perhaps he ditched it because it was damaged. Seabees (and Divers/Salvors) are notorious scroungers but I don't know which Air Corps unit he served in that would have crossed paths with the 40th Battalion. They were building air bases on the islands they occupied and there are many photos of B-24's, P-38's etc in the cruise books.

 

EDWARD M. ZAJAC ARMY SERIAL NUMBER 36319065

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Edward M. Zajac, 81, of Calumet City, a former baker and World War II veteran, died Thursday after complications from a heart attack. Mr. Zajac served in the Pacific with the Army Air Corps and recently was honored as a 50-year member of Post No. 30 of the Polish Legion of American Veterans. He learned his baking skills growing up near 117th Street and Michigan Avenue.

 

 

....no matter, now it's Boom Man's bag

 

 

Here's the stencil he used and also a welding glass that was in the bag

 

 

After the first tour it was back to California to refit, but not for long

 

Second Tour Cruise Book 1944-1945, Saipan & Okinawa, 4 more WIA Purple Hearts https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/museums/Seabee/Cruisebooks/wwiicruisebooks/ncb-cruisebooks/40%20NCB%201944-45.pdf

 

D.G. Christenson, CM2c on the roster

 

I surmise that this was his going home bag, cobbled together from different pieces of gear and canvas. Stitched from different pieces, it may have started out as his seabag but wore out. He cut it down, added a pocket inside and loops on the back.

 

 

 

 

 

Marked on the bottom DON and then painted over A.4.

A Company, 4th Platoon, 40th Battalion

 

 

 

Easier to see the repairs and cuts on these photos.

 

40

CO

 

and his stencil are cut short by the additional canvas added to the shortened bag

 

 

 

I'm not sure how useful the added loops were or how it was carried.

 

There ya go.....the relics of BOOM MAN, U.S. Navy Diver in the 40th Battalion SEABEES

 

 

[Salvage Sailor]

SEABEE NEWS SERVICE ISSUE NO. 41 10 OCTOBER 1944

 

Detailing the first tour of the Fighting Fortieth including the losses and Navy Cross & Silver Star citations https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/museums/Seabee/Online%20Reading%20Room/Manuals%20and%20Publications/Publications/seabeenewsservice/Issue%2041_%2010%20Oct%201944.pdf

 

PS for the Naval uniform collectors. There are many excellent photos of Navy uniforms in the two (2) 40th Battalion cruise books I posted above.

 

Camo uniforms, work uniforms, and blues with Seabee patches and Seabee/diver cuff designations. Also the ceremonies and Seabee cemeteries honoring their fallen shipmates.

 

.....and one more thing

 

Not sure if this was an essential Seabee luxury item for foxhole and air raid use or just a gag keepsake

 

A Navy Bedpan.....

[Salvage Sailor]

Reverse of Zajac's bag, perhaps he ditched it because it was damaged. Seabees (and Divers/Salvors) are notorious scroungers but I don't know which Air Corps unit he served in that would have crossed paths with the 40th Battalion. They were building air bases on the islands they occupied and there are many photos of B-24's, P-38's etc in the cruise books.

 

EDWARD M. ZAJAC ARMY SERIAL NUMBER 36319065

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Edward M. Zajac, 81, of Calumet City, a former baker and World War II veteran, died Thursday after complications from a heart attack. Mr. Zajac served in the Pacific with the Army Air Corps and recently was honored as a 50-year member of Post No. 30 of the Polish Legion of American Veterans. He learned his baking skills growing up near 117th Street and Michigan Avenue.

 

 

Just received info from our always helpful member aznation

 

Edward Zajac

He spent 43 months in service during World War II and was discharged with the rank of technical sergeant from the 13th Air Force. Thirty-six months of his service period was spent overseas, in the south Pacific with the 13th Air Force. Known as the Cactus Air Force, the 13th AF served in the South and Southwest Pacific.

Constituted as Thirteenth AF on 14 Dec 1942. Activated in New Caledonia on 13 Jan 1943. Served in the South Pacific and, later, Southwest Pacific, participating in the Allied drive north and west from the Solomons to the Philippines.

Stations. New Caledonia, 13 Jan 1943; Espiritu Santo, 21 Jan 1943; Guadalcanal, 13 Jan 1944; Los Negros, 15 Jun 1944; Hollandia, New Guinea, 13 Sep 1944; Noemfoor, 23 Sep 1944; Morotai, 29 OCt 1944; Leyte, 1 Mar 1945; Clark Field, Luzon,

 

The 40th SEABEE Battalion was building airfields for the Cactus Air Force on both Espiritu Santo and Los Negros which is where this bag was most likely "liberated" from then Coporal Zajac, 13th AF Baker

[P-40Warhawk]

Cool grouping! I mostly like uniforms, but this group had some neat stuff in it. That he save the tool box (and it survived at all) is cool too.

[Salvage Sailor]

Yep, I liked the bags but it was the tool box that attracted me to the group

[Brian Keith]

Great thread, love the nick-name, Boom Man!

BKW