While many veterans spent World War II with a rifle in one hand and a grenade in the other, Harry ‘Red? Seavey was busy driving a bulldozer.
‘I didn’t want to live in a foxhole,? said the 82-year-old Addison resident, who served in the Pacific Theater of Operations from 1943-46 as a Seabee with the 130th U.S. Naval Construction Battalion.
On Saturday, Seavey along with 32 other veterans flew to Washington D.C. to visit the National WWII Memorial, which opened in April 2004.
‘I just felt like I should see it,? Seavey said. ‘It’s dedicated to World War II and that’s where I was.?
The memorial consists of 56 pillars, each measuring 17 feet tall, arranged in a semicircle around a central plaza with two 43-foot arches on opposite sides.
Each pillar is inscribed with the names of the then-48 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and the Alaska Territory and Territory of Hawaii, the Commonwealth of the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The arches are inscribed with ‘Atlantic? and ‘Pacific,? respectively.
Seavey flew to Washington D.C. for the day free of charge thanks to Honor Flight Michigan (www.honorflightmichigan.com), a nonprofit organization formed to raise funds to send all WWII veterans to see their monument before it’s too late.
Only 3.2 million of the 16.1 million who served in the war are still alive, according to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. Each day an average of 1,200 to 1,500 WWII veterans pass away.
Overall, Seavey was very impressed with the tribute to all those who saved the world from the tyranny of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan.
‘It’s beautiful. They did a good job all the way around on that monument and we appreciate it,? he said. ‘I don’t know whether there are enough words to describe it or not. It’s really something.?
Visiting the monument made Seavey recall all those veterans who didn’t live to appreciate it.
‘I’m sorry that a lot of the fellas don’t get to see it,? he said. ‘That’s the first thing I thought of.?
During the two hours they toured the monument, Seavey said the veterans in his group didn’t say much.
‘It was pretty quiet,? he said. ‘It was emotional. It brought back a lot of memories.?
In addition to the WWII memorial, Seavey’s group also visited Arlington National Cemetery to view the changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. ‘That’s always impressive,? he said. ‘I’ve seen that before.?
Spending the day with fellow WWII veterans was an enjoyable experience.
‘It was just good to be with people who had the same things happen to them,? he said. ‘There was a real camaraderie. We appreciated being together.?
When Seavey was drafted back in 1943, he didn’t hesitate to answer Uncle Sam’s call.
‘Like most of the guys I felt it was my duty,? he said.
Japan’s ‘sneak attack? on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 was definitely a motivator for Seavey.
‘I was one of them who figured they had to be paid back,? he said. ‘I wanted to do my part to pay them back.?
During his years as a Seabee, Seavey spent time building airfields, roads and bridges.
‘I was a bulldozer operator,? he said.
Even though Seavey began his military service in 1943, his role in WWII didn’t really begin until February 1945 when the 130th Naval Construction Battalion landed on island of Saipan to join the Second Marine Division for the invasion of Okinawa.
The Battle of Okinawa, which lasted from April 1 through June 21, 1945, was pivotal because it ultimately crushed the Japanese war machine. It was the bloodiest land battle of the Pacific war and the last major battle of WWII.
‘We never got into any real fighting. It was mostly bombing and mortar attacks,? Seavey explained. ‘We lived in a foxhole on Okinawa until we got around to where we could start building.?
This was ironic considering the whole reason he joined the Navy was to avoid foxholes.
Even as the battle raged, Seavey and his fellow Seabees went right to work, stopping every now and then to take cover whenever Japanese bombs and mortar shells began to rain down.
‘We even did construction at night under flood lights,? he said. ‘You would hear the air raid siren and everything would get black. We’d quit while the bombing was on.?
These days Seavey said he hears a lot of talk about roundabouts (also known as ‘rotaries?) as if they’re something new.
‘We built one in 1945 on Okinawa,? he said. ‘When they straightened up and built up the island (after the war), they incorporated it in their road plans.?
Following the war, Seavey returned to civilian life in Oakland County, where he worked as a journeyman electrician for many years.
During his career, Seavey worked for the City of Pontiac, various private contractors and General Motors Truck and Bus, from which he retired after 15 years.
Locally, he worked as the electrical inspector for Oxford Township for 13 years and Addison Township for 20 years.
An Addison resident for 39 years, Seavey has no plans to leave his charming homestead near the corner of Leonard and Hagerman roads.
Seavey enjoys spending time with his lovely wife Connie.
In June, the couple will be married 59 years.