poster from John Hall

"As part of efforts to publicize the newly formed Seabees, Hollywood produced an action-packed motion picture. Filmed at Pt. Hueneme, Point Mugu, and Camp Pendleton, California, rather than in the South Pacific, The Fighting Seabees starred John Wayne and Susan Hayward. The film's release in 1944 made Seabees a household word. This picture also began a relationship between John Wayne and the Seabees that lasted for more than three decades ending with what was 'The Duke's' last production, Home for the Seabees, a documentary film in 1977 at the Naval Construction Battalion Center, Port Hueneme, California. The original story outline for The Fighting Seabees differed from the film in many ways. Changes from this draft included the elimination of a role by Thomas Mitchell as John Wayne's father. Mitchell had co-starred with the Duke years earlier in Stagecoach." (quote from The Civil Engineer Corps and Seabee Museum, Naval Construction Battalion Center, Port Hueneme, California)

Production:

poster from IMDb

Cast:

Links:

• Seabees from WW2Timeline
• Brian Koller review
• John Wayne from Leroy Wood
• John Wayne Tribute from Norman Hirsch
• History of the Seabees by Dr. Vincent A. Transano, 1977, from Naval Historical Center
• Seabees factfile from US Navy
• U. S. Navy Seabees from seabees.com
• Seabee Cook's Page from seabeecook.com
• Navy Seabee Veterans of America, Inc.
• Port of Hueneme Oxnard Harbor District and history
• Port Hueneme Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center