Marianas Islands Medallion Award to Phm2c Lewis E. Foster, 112th Seabees, 30th NCR, 6th Brigade, Tinian 1944-1945
October 31, 2009
Akron, Ohio

Family and friends gathered at Dontinos Italian Restaurant in Akron to present the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands Medallion by virtue of his WWII service on Tinian to 112th Naval Construction Battalion Seabee Corpsman Lewis E. Foster of Mentor, Ohio.

In November, 1944, the 112th was assigned by Navy brass to the 6th Brigade, 30th Naval Construction Regiment- known as "Airfield Construction Specialists" which was forming up at Saipan. The mission was to construct the facilities and giant airbase on Tinian to support the 20th AAF -B-29s under the command of Gen. Curtis LeMay. In about three months of nonstop construction under Seabee CAN DO Effort - Tinian became the largest airbase anywhere in the world with full facilities for 450 B-29's and crews , and also in secret, the base from where the Manhattan Project would be executed. De-classified documents are just now revealing the Monumental Effort at Tinian done by 15,000 Seabees in miraculously short time - thereby shortening WWII by months and some say years.

The 112th NCB landed on Tinian, secured by the 4th and 2nd Marine Divisions on December, 28, 1944 and moved forward to Okinawa about June 25th, 1945. While on Tinian, their specific construction assignment was to build West Field consisting of all buildings and appurtenances and two 8600 ft. long runways, taxiways and hardstands for approximately 225 B-29's of the 58th Bomb Wing. The work was completed in record time and the 58th BW occupied West Field in April of 1945. The 112th had 5 or 6 B-29's flying its "Fighting Bee" Colors. Seabees completely and faithfully supported their Bee-29's and crewmen.

Corpsman Lewis Foster's specific duties as a Seabee Corpsman were to treat the varied construction related injuries which were very common in this tropical latitude, prevent and treat common tropical diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, jungle rot, as well as any gunshot or hostile related wounds. His medical unit was staffed by two excellent surgeons, one dentist, about twelve corpsmen and a police dog named Price who faithfully stood night watch in sick bay with Lewis. For his WWII service as a Seabee Corpsman Lewis received a Navy Unit Citation from Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal.

Mr. Foster had this to say about his WWII service at his award ceremony:

"I didn't do anything spectacular on Tinian. The B-29 crewmen were the real heroes. Our camp was located 1/4 mile beyond the east end of the two 8600' long airstrips that we had built (West Field), with a mile wide ravine just beyond our camp. One night, about 250 B-29's fully loaded with incendiaries took off on a fire bombing raid of Tokyo from West Field at treetop level over our camp. That night, I watched two B-29's crash in white-hot fireballs into the ravine and three more into the ocean between Tinian and Saipan. After I witnessed that, I viewed B-29 airmen as Heroes."

"As a Seabee Corpsman, I stood night watch in sickbay for two months with a police dog named Prince at my side. We had Japanese infiltrators pilfering our camp nightly. I am convinced that the dog saved my life by intimidating the enemy who dared to sneak up on me."

"I am very happy that the People of the Northern Marianas are free and by choice Americans, and proud to have participated in such a crucial operation on Tinian that led to the abrupt end of World War II."

Support our Veterans,

Edwin E. Foster
112th Seabees Sec/Historian
www.112thseabees.com

Note: Photos taken by Kyle and Mencken