Any idea why they wrote Ward in the Seabees instead of a regular branch of the military?

Just a guess but could Beaumont himself have done that during the war?

Could be that he did. It also worked for the storyline that Ward did not have to go to Beavers class and tell them what a hero he was. I thought it was interesting that they used the seabees.

Seemed to fit what Ward was good at given his engineering background, maybe in college he was learning to be a Civil Engineer.

Any idea why they wrote Ward in the Seabees instead of a regular branch of the military?

The Seabees are part of the Navy. It's a play on "c.b." for construction battalion.

He did talk about that engineering background early on--interesting he ended up in that marketing or similar job. We don't know exactly what the job is but it's pretty safe to say it's not any kind of engineering.

The Seabees are part of the Navy. It's a play on "c.b." for construction battalion.

Sure, but it's the kinder, gentler part of the Navy.

I was wondering if there was a reason to give Ward a softer background. It's not like Ward saw frontline combat...

Sure, but it's the kinder, gentler part of the Navy.

Lol! Very few in the Navy see "frontline combat", but I wouldn't call any part of the US Navy "kind or gentle". The Marines and Army infantry are ground combat troops, but the Seabees arrive with or before "The First to Fight" Marines.

Lol! Very few in the Navy see "frontline combat", but I wouldn't call any part of the US Navy "kind or gentle". The Marines and Army infantry are ground combat troops, but the Seabees arrive with or before "The First to Fight" Marines.

Exactly and they seem to have chosen not to have Ward on the frontline. They could have written him in any branch of the military doing any part of it.

Seabees is "perfect casting" for Ward, IMO.

The Seabees I've known personally have all been cut from pretty much the same cloth.....a little too civilized to put in the trenches, likely going to marry the debutante after his stint in the service is up, so they keep him "safe" from harms way.
That's not to say he doesn't perform a valuable function, nor face danger...but it's a different kind of danger.

Or to put it another way, not the kind of guy you expect to back you up in a bar fight.

Or to put it another way, not the kind of guy you expect to back you up in a bar fight.

First of all, Ward would not have been in a bar. Maybe in a cocktail lounge in a fancy restaurant or night club.

Second, if you were the type to get in scrapes, would you really be hanging around Ward, or more exactly, would Ward be hanging around you?

So you are probably right, but only because the fight never would have happened. :D

Second, if you were the type to get in scrapes, would you really be hanging around Ward, or more exactly, would Ward be hanging around you?

:D

Oh I don't know that I'd be near as sure of that as you seem to be. "White knight" actions happen all the time.

The scenario I had in mind would be something similar to the confrontation in TAGS episode "Barney mends a broken heart". Where Barney lips-off to the bully, and then sits back and watches Andy get a black eye trying to defend them all.

Oh I don't know that I'd be near as sure of that as you seem to be. "White knight" actions happen all the time.

The scenario I had in mind would be something similar to the confrontation in TAGS episode "Barney mends a broken heart". Where Barney lips-off to the bully, and then sits back and watches Andy get a black eye trying to defend them all.

Andy and Barney are out in all types of the public where Ward would not be. Ward doesn't have to put up with a Barney type. He does put up with Fred who is similar to Barney, but not exact.

White Knights are more for rescuing women than men.

Andy and Barney are out in all types of the public where Ward would not be.

Ward doesn't have to put up with a Barney type. He does put up with Fred who is similar to Barney, but not exact.



(1) Somehow I suspect that the environment Ward might encounter half way around the world while fighting a world war would be considerably less "starched and pressed" than the Currier and Ives fantasy you seem to favor for him.

(2) In the example I drew a comparison to earlier, Barney was the one who could not be counted upon to back up Andy when confronted with a bully. So, of course our gentleman Seabee would NOT have to put up with "Barney" SINCE IT IS WARD who couldn't be counted upon for back up.

Let's not forget, Barney crossed the waves to do his part and fight the dreaded Huns.
I believe he was a librarian on Staten Island?

(1) Somehow I suspect that the environment Ward might encounter half way around the world while fighting a world war would be considerably less "starched and pressed" than the Currier and Ives fantasy you seem to favor for him.

(2) In the example I drew a comparison to earlier, Barney was the one who could not be counted upon to back up Andy when confronted with a bully. So, of course our gentleman Seabee would NOT have to put up with "Barney" SINCE IT IS WARD who couldn't be counted upon for back up.

Wait, so your bar fight happens halfway around the world? You did not say where the bar was. Are Barney and Andy Seabees too? You need to be more explicit so the rest of us know what world you are in.

I imagined Ward's fight to happen in Mayfield and Barney and Andy were in Mayberry.

I wonder if building a bar was one of the first things the Seabees did upon arrival? I just watched a movie and it had Seabees in it working in the Jungles. There were not any bars there though.

And bear in mind, I'm really not trying to "dis" Ward so much, I'm merely supporting that I believe the portrayal of Ward as a Seabee suits his genteel nature....perfectly.

Let's not forget, Barney crossed the waves to do his part and fight the dreaded Huns.
I believe he was a librarian on Staten Island?

I am not familiar with TAGS. It's really before my time. I can only get through a few episodes in the early season.

TAGS season 1 is pretty hard to stay with. I can only take so much of hick Andy. I did see the Christmas episode recently--first time in years. Will Wright made a perfect Scrooge-type character.

As far as the Seabees goes, if engineer Ward was assigned to a unit setting up an operation, if the enemy found out about it, wouldn't it be subject to a bombing mission? Sounds pretty hazardous to me.

I am not familiar with TAGS. It's really before my time. I can only get through a few episodes in the early season.

From the tone of a couple of your replies, it "feels" like you are looking for a fight of some sorts.
I really don't want it to come to that, so I'm going to table further participation in the thread. I know that you are smart enough to understand the examples I used for reference are not necessarily intended to be literal. :)

From the tone of a couple of your replies, it "feels" like you are looking for a fight of some sorts.
I really don't want it to come to that, so I'm going to table further participation in the thread. I know that you are smart enough to understand the examples I used for reference are not necessarily intended to be literal. :)

Nope, no fight. I don't see Ward the way you do.

I simply do not see him ever being in a bar. You supplied the locations without letting anybody know the details.

And no, I am not smart enough to know where this bar of yours was at. How could I know? I have no clue why you would add Barney or Andy. Only you would know that.