1943-1944 Diary of a Drafted Seabees Serviceman from Pennsylvania Who Served in Port Hueneme and Fiji While Recording Daily Routines and Significant Moments of War

On offer is a first-hand account of Charles B. Litz, a U.S. serviceman in the Seabees, which was to become one of the most ubiquitous US Navy formations in World War Two (WWII). 

Litz was born in 1918 in New Kensington, Pennsylvania. Following service in WWII, he returned to New Kensington where he resided the rest of his life. He passed away in 2004 at the age of 89.

His diary begins Sept 4, 1943. Actually, the SEP is crossed out and overwritten with OCT. He is leaving home having been drafted. Several days later he reports to Camp Peary in Virginia to begin his induction. He has been detailed to the Naval Construction Battalion, known as Seabees. 

Litz was 29 when he was drafted. He was married, reflecting the older average age of Seabees as many of them had come out of construction jobs or trade unions. He details his daily routine and the lack of excitement shows through very clearly, as demonstrated in the following excerpt: 

“Wednesday. KP up at 3:30 AM and work work. 13 onions, 8 potatoes, 12 lettuce, apples, etc, etc, etc. Finish 8 PM dragged into bed..”. [Sep 12, 1943].

On Nov 25th, he shipped out of Camp Peary and headed west to Port Hueneme, California. Along the way, he saw a troop train carrying German and Italian POWs. On Dec 12th, he boarded the US Navy cargo ship USS Naos. By Dec 31st, he was off Fiji and ready to disembark. He was knocked out in an accident on board. He notes the presence of destroyers leading them with this comment:

“... Many places D.E.’s still leading. Waters dangerous. Near Fiji...” [Dec 31, 1943]. 

They are soon ashore in an obviously tropical environment (ate some coconuts) . Entries record his daily routines, whether personal – chow lines, work related – on heavy equipment, or relaxing – letter writing or playing cards. Much of his time is spent plumbing systems and welding although he was frequently assigned other tasks as well.

The experiences of war are noted frequently:

“Met fellow shipwrecked 6 days in a raft. To go to Australia 7 days leave Stutters from shock” [Jan 17, 1944].

“PBY wrecked in Bay. Sunk fast.”  [Jan 22, 1944].

“...Took a ride to bombers and saw a lot of planes...Was in a B-24. Sure would like to go up…” [Feb 10, 1944].

The remaining entries are filled with the details of daily life on the base where he is working. Also included are three black and white photographs. Two show him. A third is in fact a famous photograph of a sign erected at Bougainville by the 3rd Marine Division, 2nd Raider Regiment. It is the following poem.

“So when we reach the Isle of Japan/With our caps at a jaunty tilt/We’ll enter the city of Tokyo/On the road the Seabees built”.

A nearly identical photograph of this sign is in the US Navy Seabees Museum in Port Hueneme, California. 

For a historian, this is an excellent first-hand account of service in one of the US Navy’s vital units in WWII

Background on the Seabees: The Seabees nickname is a heterograph of the initials "C.B." from the words Construction Battalion. Naval Construction Battalions were conceived by Admiral Ben Moreell as a replacement for civilian construction companies working for the U.S. Navy. The Seabees played an indispensable role in the U.S. victories in World War 2 (WWII). By war’s end, the Seabees were nearly 50% the size of the entire US Marine Corps. It was said that they were ‘soldiers in sailors uniform, with marine training, doing civilian work at WPA wages’.

This 5-year diary measures 5.0 inches by 6.5 inches. It contains 365 pages and is approximately 25% complete as Litz only wrote in 1943 and 1944. The cover is in good condition. There is a clasp lock. The lock cannot be opened but the strap has parted, allowing the diary to be opened. The binding and spine are in good condition as are the pages. The handwriting is legible.