Honoring fallen Seabees

Robert Dean Stethem was

born in Waterbury, CT on Nov. 17, 1961. In May 1981, Petty Officer Stethem joined the Seabees. He attended recruit training and was assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion SIXTY-TWO. In 1984, he was assigned to Underwater Construction Team ONE.

On June 14, 1985, Steelworker Second Class (DV)* Stethem was returning from an assignment in Nea Makri, Greece, on TWA flight 847 when terrorists seized and ordered the aircraft to Beirut, Lebanon. Stethem was singled out as a Navy Sailor and was tortured and killed when terrorist demands were not met. His body was thrown on the runway.

SW2 (DV) Stethem is buried in Arlington National Cemetery and was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart in 1985 and the Bronze Star in 1986. In 1994, the U.S. Navy launched the USS Stethem (DDG-63) named in his honor.

One of the hijackers was arrested two years later in Germany, tried and sentenced to life in prison. He was paroled in 2005 and returned to Lebanon. It is speculated that this was a prisoner swap in exchange for Susanne Osthoff, kidnapped in Iraq a month earlier. In 2002, three other hijackers were identified and added to the FBI Most Wanted Terrorists list.

Petty Officer Stethem's family has a long Naval history. Both of his parents served in the Navy, his brother Patrick also served in the Seabees as a Steelworker Second Class, and his other brother, Kenneth, served in the U.S. Navy for twenty years before retiring as a Chief Boatswain’s Mate
and Navy SEAL.

* Diver

Island X-1 Davisville -- an organization of retired Seabees, part of the Seabee Veterans of America -- in addition to founding the Seabee Museum & Memorial Park, conceived and raised the funds for a permanent memorial to Seabees
at the Rhode Island Veteran's Cemetery,
Exeter, RI (a 15 minutes drive from the Museum). Frank Iafrate assisted in
the design, which also includes -- on the sides -- the emblems of the Civil Engineer Corps and the United States Marine Corps.

A Very Special Opportunity

Our development plans include an area designed to compliment the “Fighting Seabee” where we will display Memorial Plaques. This is your opportunity to recognize your fellow Seabees or family members to memorialize a Seabee of their own. The engraved plaques are available in two sizes, 2”x4” and 4”x4”. Both sizes provide ample space for a dedication.

We urge you to take the opportunity to add to our growing number of Commemorative Plaque participants. When you do, you are helping finance the Seabee Museum and Memorial Park as well.

Please review our “Commemorative Plaque Order Form” to fully understand the options available. And of course, if you have any questions feel free to contact us. Click here to view and print an Order Form.

Memorial Markers

Visitors to the Seabee Museum and Memorial Park first see a collection of large markers that front the parking lot. These were World War Two era Battalion markers for MCB 81, 96 111 and 115 that were originally located around the Davisville Base. These are either carved stone or fabricated from concrete. When the base closed, these markers were rescued from certain destruction by Island X-1 Davisville and moved to the Seabee Museum and Memorial Park grounds.

In addition to these markers, early in the design of the Seabee Museum and Memorial Park we planned for a memorial walking trail. The trail winds through a large grove of pine and hardwood tree, along a gently sloping hill. The atmosphere is one of quiet reflection.

The trail creates a unique opportunity for a select number of memorial markers. These can honor a fallen Seabee, a Battalion, or note a special event in Seabee history.

The first memorial marker placed on the trail honors Seabee CM2 Peter Lewis Stith (right) of Bainbridge Island, WA. While serving with Seabee Team 0604 of MCB 3, he was killed by enemy fire at Long An, Vietnam, on April 11, 1969.

If you are interested in a marker for a family member, friend, or fellow Seabee, please contact us with your request.

U.S. Navy Seabee Prayer

Lord, stand beside the men who build, and give them courage, strength and skill.
O grant them the peace of heart and mind, and comfort loved ones left behind.
Lord, hear our prayer for all Seabees, where’er they be on land or sea.

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