Original U.S. WWII 99th “Seabee” Naval Construction Battalion Painted Suitcase with Pillowcase & Unit History - Outstanding

Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is an outstanding Naval Construction Battalion set with a beautifully-painted sailor’s wooden suitcase/trunk, depicting a very buff Seabee with one of his four arms in a sling from being wounded, holding his Thompson in one hand, a cigar in another, and the fourth is twirling his mustache. One of his wings shows damage, his pants are torn showing his legs, and there is a bandage on the side of his head. He also has an extensive ribbon bar on his chest, and his hammer & wrench sit on the ground next to him. This is the most outstanding depiction of a Seabee we’ve ever seen, and shows how proud these men were of the work they did. 

The trunk, which measures 21¾ x 19½ x 6” is painted on the front with the depiction of the Seabee, and on the back are the tattered remnants of a Seabee decal. On the bottom where the studs are to hold it up, there is another more complete Seabee decal. The green base paint of the wooden trunk shows very heavy wear, especially around the edges, but the trunk has held up very well over the years, and most importantly, the large seabee on the front is still almost entirely intact. The leather handle is intact but weak so please do not handle it. The closure button works well. The interior is lined well and is in good condition.

Also included is a great Seabee pillowcase which has been stuffed with plastic bags to give it shape, measuring 16 x 16”. With this is a great copy of the 99th Seabee Naval Construction Battalion’s unit history. The book measures 8¾ x 12¼” and has photos of every man in the battalion with a roster in the back. Great material.

A fantastic Seabee set, ready for further research and display!