The Naval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport has been home to the Seabees since 1942. The Seabees — CBs, for Construction Battalions — are the Navy's combat engineers, the units that build airstrips, bridges, and bases in war zones while under fire. Their motto: 'We Build, We Fight.' The Gulfport center trained Seabees for every American conflict from World War II through Afghanistan. The Seabee Heritage Center on base preserves the history of the battalions, including the story of the African American Seabees who served in segregated units during WWII and fought for the right to serve in combat roles. The base itself is one of Gulfport's economic anchors — thousands of military and civilian personnel live and work there. After Katrina, the Seabees were among the first to begin clearing debris on the coast, doing exactly what they were trained to do: build in the aftermath of destruction.