Gulfport CBC

On June 2, 1942, an Advanced Base Depot was established in Gulfport and the first Seabees started coming through Gulfport. In 1992, the Center celebrated its 50th Anniversary on the Gulf Coast where Gulf Coast residents and thousands of Seabees have sung the praises of the Gulfport Seabee Center loud and long and, today, the Seabees occupy a special place in the scheme of things throughout the mid-South.

The men and women of the Center have been honored for their distinguished community service and awarded the prestigious Laurel Wreath Award for significant contributions to the local communities. The award traditionally honors individuals who contribute to quality of life along the Gulf Coast, but went collectively to Seabees for their hurricane relief, disaster assistance and community project support.

America's long range defense plans in the early stages of World War II called for an un-congested deep water port to serve the Caribbean area. Gulfport offered this plus a moderate, semi-tropical year-round climate which permitted training and out-loading winter and summer.

Land for the installation was acquired on a plot a mile northwest of the Port of Gulfport in April 1942, and an Advanced Base Depot was established two months later. An Armed Guard School and a Cooks and Bakers School were added in October 1942, followed by an Advanced Base Receiving Barracks in November, at which time some of the first Seabees were stationed on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The mission of the Center changed from a receiving organization to a U.S. Naval Training Center in March 1944, and provided for training in basic engineering, diesel, radioman, quartermaster and electrician's ratings.

Continuing realignments occurred creating a single command of the Naval Training Center and the Advanced Base Depot. The Depot became the U.S. Naval Storehouse in 1945 and the training center was decommissioned in 1946. In 1948, the station became custodian of certain national stockpile materials. Bauxite, tin, copper, sisal and abaca have been stored here in varying quantities since that time. Huge piles of bauxite, the imported ore from which aluminum is extracted, covers an estimated 24 of the Center's 1098 acres.

Old timers on the Coast report that there were times when some 25,000 Naval personnel were stationed at the Center. They lived in wooden barracks, tents and Quonset huts. Population between the late 1940s and early 1960s dropped to four or five enlisted personnel and four or five commissioned officers. Civilian employees fluctuated with the amount of strategic supplies and construction equipment being received, stored and trans-shipped.

Some important organizational changes were made early in 1952 when the Naval Storehouse was disestablished and the U.S. Naval Construction Battalion Center was established.

The Navy's mushrooming commitments for construction forces in Southeast Asia led the way to an increased mission for the Center in February 1966. Ten months later, the Center had expanded to include new functions such as Seabee Team Training and a new tenant, Construction Training Unit. The staff for the Naval Construction Battalion Center had expanded to 183 military and 523 civilian personnel to support approximately 4,200 Seabees. A personnel training facility, inactive for 20 years, was effectively forming, staging, training and homeporting first two, then five, seven and now four mobile construction battalions.

The impact on the community made by the Seabees and their associates has been astounding. The first group of 509 Seabees arrived unannounced from Davisville, Rhode Island, in March 1966. The galley, barracks and other personnel support facilities were still closed and locked. A base fireman, with a knack for cooking, was hastily recruited to prepare fried chicken and mashed potatoes. Other civilian employees opened the barracks, turned on gas and electricity, installed bunks and served as mess cooks.

The first few hours of cooperation between Seabees and the civilian community set the pattern for an association that has since grown into the mutual admiration society it is today. Gulf Coast residents refer to the Seabees as "Our Navy". They use every opportunity to show their admiration for the fighter-builders. And, the Seabees respond in kind. From the beginning they have been good citizens, active in community affairs and taking the lead in many segments of community life.

Take Seabees and put them on a community assistance project, such as building a teen center, clearing a site for a city park, building a Girl Scout camp, improving a Little League baseball field, or building a Chamber of Commerce building, and training takes on new meaning. The Seabees are proud of their accomplishments and the community is grateful for the improvements they have made in the community.

Seabee assistance to the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Camille captured the attention of news media all over the nation and earned the Naval Construction Battalion Center and supporting commands the Navy Unit Commendation for the part they played in recovery operations.

Today, the Gulfport Seabee Center is one of the finest installations the Navy has. Today, with military readiness as our primary concern, we are the Navy's best homeport, mobilization base and logistics support center; the leader in efficient base operations; number one in innovative technology; and, the finest in sound business practices.

Main phone numbers: Commercial (228)871-2555 or DSN 868-2555

Mailing address: NCBC Gulfport, MS 39501

Population: 4,230 active duty; 264 reservists; 2,560 family members; 1,390 civilians

Housing: 13 officer family units; 208 enlisted family units; 54 unaccompanied officer units; 2,153 unaccompanied enlisted units (228)871-2568

Temporary lodging: 246 visitor units (228)981-2505; 15-unit Navy Lodge (800)628-9466

Family Support Center: (228)871-2581

Schools: None on base.

Child Care: Center for 256, three-month wait; 13 approved hoems (228)871-2323

Health care: Clinic. Appointments (228)871-2807/2808; benefits/Tricare (228)871-2821; also see Keesler AFB

Naval CBC - Gulfport, MS has a medium size commissary - (228)871-2039, a medium exchange, and a mini mall (228)871-1514. Recreation at Naval CBC - Gulfport, MS includes library, auto hobby, recreation center, theater, golf, gym, tennis, swimming, outdoor activities, and fishing.

Internet: www.cbcgulfport.navy.mil