Military Monday: Sailing the Ocean Blue with the Merchant Marines

During the early days of World War II, my own special veteran papa, was part of the Merchant Marines.  I never really thought much about it.  I knew he had his first mate's papers and I knew he thoroughly enjoyed being on the water.

The Merchant Marines.  Well, this is quite interesting.  It wasn't until after my dad's death that the military decided these brave men who sailed the seas for our country during a time of war could be considered veterans.  As the Merchant Marines lost a greater per capita number of men than the US Armed Forces did during World War II, I found it astonishing that they weren't acknowledged as veterans until 1988.

Atlantic Trader, States Marine Co, WWII

The Atlantic Trader of the States Marine Co was just one of the boats on which he served. The captain during his trip to the French North Africa was a Captain S. Glenn.  Of interest in my reading is finding that the SS Keystone was torpedoed on a trip to North Africa at the same time my dad was on the Atlantic Trader.  Were they part of the same mission which had 45 merchant ships and 7 escorts?  I think I have more research to do.

I remember him talking about how they were gunrunners during the early war, but they weren't allowed to defend themselves.  Instead, they had Navy escorts when they trudged over the sea.  Although he told one of his cousins (who later told me) that it was really a cushy little job, he apparently tired of comments by those for whom he was running merchandize and men around.  So, after one trip ended, he tried to join the Navy.  They wouldn't take him.  Why?  I don't know.

He ended up talking with the Army who told them that they, the Army, also had boats.  That did it for him.  He joined up and spent the next twenty some odd years walking everywhere since he ended up in the Infantry.  Isn't that a kicker? Now, to be honest, he did spend some time in the Phillipines ferrying some men and some generals around.

Back to now---  I have been watching the World War II stories on my local PBS station and been amazed and horrified at the conditions these brave men fought.  One of them said that they weren't heroes.  Only the ones under the white crosses at Normandy qualified for that honor.  No, they were just survivors.

I think my dad felt that way as he told a sibling of mine that we should never forget all those brave fallen men.  My dad couldn't forget them.  And I can't forget my dad.

Ahh, genealogy.  A great big hug and thanks to all who served our country.  Papa was right.  We can't forget.

Sources:

http://www.statesmarinelines.com/index.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Merchant_Marine