Heroes: the Seabees

 

"...Enroute to the Philippines, his Battalion received orders to proceed on to the Tinian, Saipan, and Emirau Islands..."

 

image of american flag

 Truman B. Farmer

  • Branch of Service: Navy Seabees
  • Unit: 27th Special Construction Battalion
  • Dates: 1943 - 1945
  • Location: Pacific Theater, Tinian, Saipan, and Emirau Island
  • Rank: Heavy Equipment Chief
  • Birth Year: 1920
  • Place of Birth: Blair, OK

 

 

 

Truman Burette Farmer

 

     Truman Burette Farmer, born in Blair, Oklahoma, on March 28, 1920, enlisted in the U. S. Navy in August of 1943. He completed boot camp in Virginia and proceeded to the Philippines by ship with the Navy Seabees 27th Special Construction Battalion. Their assignment was to precede the Marines and build roads, bridges, runways, etc. Enroute to the Philippines, his Battalion received orders to proceed on to the Tinian, Saipan, and Emirau Islands. The battle of Tinian and Saipan was on of the bloodiest battles in U. S. Military history. Mr. Farmer volunteered to join forces with the Marine Corp. because of their high casualties. He was honorably discharged from the Navy in January 1945.

     Truman Farmer served with the 45th Infantry from 1950-1957, where he was a cook, participating in summer camps in Ft. Hood, Texas. In 1957, he was seriously injured in a jeep wreck and received a medical discharge.

     Following his military career, he worked at Tinker Air Force Base as a welder, and retired after twelve years.

     In 2000, 55 years after completing his service with the Navy, he received his combat medals and Bronze Star.

Truman B. Farmer at Pearl Harbor.

 

Truman and Zona S. Farmer. They were married 63 years and had four children.

 

 

 

Information and photographs were generously provided to World War II Stories -- In Their Own Words by Mr. Terry Farmer, son of Truman B. Farmer. Our sincerest THANKS for allowing us to share this story!

Original Story submitted on 13 December 2004.
Story added to website on 20 December 2004.
Story modified on 24 December 2004.

 

 

Some web sites that are about the Navy SEABEE's and related material:

History of the Seabees'

Navy Seabees' Veterans of America

Naval Construction Force (Seabees')

Sixth Special NCB

Seabee Sites on the Internet

76th Seabees of WWII