Book excerpt: The story of the Seabees by the famous author William Bradford Huie. This was Huie's first book about the Seabees. He wrote it while in the Navy Seabees. He was an assistant to Vice Admiral Ben Moreell, the "Father" of the Seabees.The Seabees were born of dire need at a time of national peril. The country was stunned by the blow at Pearl Harbor. Most of the men who joined theSeabees could have avoided military service [because of their age] had they chosen to do so, but it is a characteristic of the Seabees that they have a highly developed sense of individual responsibility to “get this thing over with.” Lieutenant Huie is to be complimented on the work which he has performed in setting forth the accomplishments and ideals of the Seabees and the spirit by which they are animated. This spirit can be summarized by quoting from an answer to a questionnaire distributed to a battalion of Seabees by their Chaplain. Among other questions was this one: “What can we do to make you more content?” and the answer was: “Nothing, I got in this outfit to give, not to get.” ––Ben Moreell Vice Admiral, Civil Engineer Corps, U.S. Navy