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(Left: The Last Convoy East sailed one month after our ship: blackout lifted and no convoy.
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TORPEDO GALLERY
Click on the images to enlarge.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Shivver Me Timbers, But Don't Blow Me Down, Mate!
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Serving my country in the U.S. Merchant Marine was one of the
grandest experiences as a teen-ager. I am not one who fights for veteran's status. Others have and I am grateful, but it was the G.I. Bill from my time in the Reglar Army that gave me a college education. I don't need the status because I am proud to have served with proud and distinguished gentlemen sailors who were at great risk in times of sheer terror. I sailed on a Liberty Ship with the U.S. Navy armed guard contingent who kept our guns in operating order. If we had been attacked, every able man aboard would have manned the guns.
It was a good life. I passed up going to the Merchant Marine Academy, training to be an officer with a commission in the Naval Reserve, in favor of going to sea quicker. At sea each shift was eight hours duration: one-and-one-half hours each, standing lookout on the bow, standing reserve in the mess hall and taking coffee to the mate on watch while taking over at the helm, steeriing the ship.
According to the War Shipping Administration, the U.S. Merchant Marine suffered the highest rate of casualties of any service in World War II.
Officially, a total of 1,554 ships were sunk to due to war conditions: by torpedoes, shelling, bombs, kamikazes, mines, etc.Alaska 48 ships; Approach Med. 29 ships; Caribbean 180 ships; Atlantic U.S. coast 172 ships; Gulf Mexico 45 ships; Indian-Red Sea 49 ships; Mediterranean/Black Sea 250 ships; Murmansk Run 85 ships; Normandy 70 ships; NE Atlantic 191 ships; N Atlantic 166 ships; Okinawa 30 ships; Pacific 148 ships; Philippines 129 ships; S Atlantic 69 ships; Pacific coast of U.S. 27 ships; Region unknown 93 ships.
Comparison of Merchant Marine casualty rate to other services: Merchant Marine 1 in 26; Marines 1 in 34; Army 1 in 48; Navy 1 in 114; Coast Guard 1 in 421.
President Roosevelt promised mariners of the U.S. Merchant Marine, and Army Transport Service, veteran status and a Seaman's Bill of Rights. It did not happen.
Only after decades of vital and heroic service did the Merchant Marine acquire verteran status ...after World War II.Despite their honorable, vital and heroic service in wartime, the men of the U.S. merchant marine were not accorded veteran status until decades following the end of World War II. Only in 1988 were merchant mariners who served in World War II officially recognized as veterans by President Reagan.
The struggle for veteran's status: http://www.armed-guard.com/about-mm.html Project Liberty Ship, and http://www.usmm.org/usmmv.html United States Merchant Marine Veterans of World War II
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It was a good life. I passed up going to the Merchant Marine Academy, training to be an officer with a commission in the Naval Reserve, in favor of going to sea quicker. At sea each shift was eight hours duration: one-and-one-half hours each, standing lookout on the bow, standing reserve in the mess hall and taking coffee to the mate on watch while taking over at the helm, steeriing the ship.
According to the War Shipping Administration, the U.S. Merchant Marine suffered the highest rate of casualties of any service in World War II.
Officially, a total of 1,554 ships were sunk to due to war conditions: by torpedoes, shelling, bombs, kamikazes, mines, etc.Alaska 48 ships; Approach Med. 29 ships; Caribbean 180 ships; Atlantic U.S. coast 172 ships; Gulf Mexico 45 ships; Indian-Red Sea 49 ships; Mediterranean/Black Sea 250 ships; Murmansk Run 85 ships; Normandy 70 ships; NE Atlantic 191 ships; N Atlantic 166 ships; Okinawa 30 ships; Pacific 148 ships; Philippines 129 ships; S Atlantic 69 ships; Pacific coast of U.S. 27 ships; Region unknown 93 ships.
Comparison of Merchant Marine casualty rate to other services: Merchant Marine 1 in 26; Marines 1 in 34; Army 1 in 48; Navy 1 in 114; Coast Guard 1 in 421.
President Roosevelt promised mariners of the U.S. Merchant Marine, and Army Transport Service, veteran status and a Seaman's Bill of Rights. It did not happen.
Only after decades of vital and heroic service did the Merchant Marine acquire verteran status ...after World War II.Despite their honorable, vital and heroic service in wartime, the men of the U.S. merchant marine were not accorded veteran status until decades following the end of World War II. Only in 1988 were merchant mariners who served in World War II officially recognized as veterans by President Reagan.
The struggle for veteran's status: http://www.armed-guard.com/about-mm.html Project Liberty Ship, and http://www.usmm.org/usmmv.html United States Merchant Marine Veterans of World War II
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