David Burdick

Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 24 (NMCB-24), known as the "Seabees," is a reserve construction battalion of the United States Navy. Established in 1942 during World War II, NMCB-24 supported combat operations by constructing airfields, roads, and other critical infrastructure in both the Pacific and European theaters. Throughout the Cold War, the battalion participated in numerous exercises and provided rapid construction capabilities for both military and humanitarian missions. In recent years, NMCB-24 has deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, as well as disaster relief operations worldwide, continuing its legacy of "We build, we fight."

The USNCB Trading Center at Port Hueneme, California, traces its roots to World War II, when the base was established in 1942 as the primary West Coast home for the U.S. Navy’s Construction Battalions, better known as the Seabees. Serving as a vital logistics and training hub, Port Hueneme played a crucial role in deploying construction units and supplies to the Pacific theater. Over the decades, it evolved into the Naval Construction Battalion Center, supporting Seabee operations worldwide. The Trading Center specifically facilitated procurement, supply distribution, and material readiness, ensuring Seabee units remained equipped for rapid response and construction missions across the globe.