Howard's Views

PURPLE HEARTS
for
MERCHANT MARINE VETERANS OF WORLD WAR II !!

Another fact seldom acknowledged is the age of many men who sailed in the merchant fleet. The oldest I personally knew was 70, but many men were in their late fifties and sixties.  They were experienced seamen, some with more than 40 years at sea, and their knowledge and hard-earned experience was vital to the war effort.  Certainly they could have remained ashore and earned good wages in a safer environment, the defense industry, but their patriotism kicked in and they headed out of port and into waters often controlled by the enemy.  They weren't old men, they were vitalized and energetic and performed their duties at all time, no matter what the conditions, fighting the storms at sea or warding off an enemy attack.

Our Captain on the S.S. U.S.O. was 56, and our Chief Engineer on one voyage, 66. Most of the older seamen had families ashore which would have exempted them from the draft, while many others were rated 4-F by their draft boards and therefore ineligible for Military service, so they enlisted in the U.S. Maritime Service and too training to become merchant seamen in either the Deck, Engine or Steward's department.

The merchant marine was an entirely voluntary service, while the Naval Armed Guard assigned to the merchant fleet may have been either draftees or those who enlisted voluntarily.

9,497 Merchant Marine Sailors Killed in Action in World War II!
There were nine thousand four hundred and ninety seven merchant seamen who lost their lives as a result of enemy action during WWII, and to this date the U.S. government has never expressed their appreciation for their service or honored them in any way. It's time! Yes, it's time to correct an oversight, an oversight that has gone on for more than sixty years, time that these men are given consideration for the services they rendered and the sacrifices they made for their country.

Also, the merchant seamen who were wounded as a result of enemy action, more than 12,000 of them, have not received proper recognition either. It is an injustice to them and their families not to receive some type of acknlwledgment, even after sixty years have passed, for the valuable contributions they made to the war effort between 1941 and 1945. Whether they paid the ultimate price by losing their lives, or suffered from wounds or the privations and tortures inflicted upon them as prisoners-of-war, this country must offer them or their families something that reflects its' gratitude for their invaluable services, services without which the other branches could not have been effective in defeating the enemy both in the Atlantic, Pacific, and other theatres of war.

GEN. GEORGE WASHINGTON DESIGNED THE FIRST PURPLE HEART  DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR                                        

The recognition to which I refer is the Purple Heart, a medal originally conceived by General George Washington and awarded to his men during the Revolutionary War. For many years it was forgotten, but again revived in 1932, and awarded to those wounded in action, or to the families of those who died from their wounds. What reason can there possibly be for not honoring these Veterans by awarding the Purple Heart to the families of the men who lost their lives during the war, or to those who were wounded and who are still alive? Most are in their eighties or nineties now, but they'd still appreciate the Honor.

CLICK HERE TO SEND THIS WEBSITE TO A FRIEND: Purple HeartS for Merchant Marine seamen wounded or killed during World War II.

My Coast Guard Discharge states that I was a member of the Armed Forces During WWII. Above, in the Persian Gulf, 1943, and again in 1944. Therefore, those wounded or the families of those killed in action should be entitled to be awarded a Purple Heart.

LEGLISLATION MUST BE SPONSORED FOR SUCH RECOGNITION
Recently I approached Congressman Elton Gallegly about sponsoring a Legislative amendment for this purpose. Congressman Gallegly is quite knowledgeable about the Merchant Marine, the Maritime Academy at King's Point, NY, and appreciative of the services the seaman in the U.S. Merchant Marine rendered their country during the Second World War. Below I will furnish an address for his office, so that those of you who wish to write letters regarding this matter may do so. Remember, the more letters, the better.

At the same time I am going to approach a U.S. Senator through a friend with the good political connections, to seek a co-sponsor in the U.S. Senate.

THE MERCHANT MARINE WAS THE ONLY FULLY INTEGRATED SERVICE DURING WWII.
Few people realize that the Merchant Marine was the only fully integrated service during the war, with the noted exception of a single Army unit, led by George M. Cohan, that traveled the world entertaining the troops. (That was the one condition that Cohan demanded, that all members of all races in his theatre group be treated equally). The U.S. Maritime Service and the Merchant Marine were already fully integrated, as were the seaman's unions on both coasts.

Another fact seldom acknowledged is the age of many men who sailed in the merchant fleet. The oldest I personally knew was 70, but many were in their late fifties and sixties. Our Captain on the S.S. U.S.O. was 56, and our Chief Engineer on one voyage, 66. Most of the older seamen had families ashore which would have exempted them from the draft, while many others were rated 4-F by their draft boards and therefore ineligible for Military service, so they enlisted in the U.S. Maritime Service and too training to become merchant seamen in either the Deck, Engine or Steward's department.

The merchant marine was an entirely voluntary service, while the Naval Armed Guard assigned to the merchant fleet may have been either draftees or those who enlisted voluntarily.

MERCHANT NAVY (BRITISH) LOSSES
In doing a little extra-curricular reading yesterday, I came across another interesting fact: the British merchant fleet lost 30,000 sailors during WWII. Remember, they were involved two years earlier than the U.S., and Britain depended upon its merchant fleet for just about everything. The German U-Boat campaign had one single purpose in mind at the beginning of the war, to cut off the supply of food and weapons to Great Britain.

This they did with great efficiency and for awhile they were quite successful. The British developed anti-submarine techniques that slowly began taking its' toll upon the U-Boat fleet, and when America entered the war, it was eventually crippled. But 30,000 of their brave young sailors (and old, as well) died. This shows the severity of the risks that merchant seamen took simply be venturing out of port!

The seamen of the Merchant Marine carried 95% of the cargo delivered to the fighting forces during WWII, and that not only included the hazards of submarine warfare, but they participated in every invasion, assault and landing made by the Army, Navy and Marine Corps.

To Correspond: Purser128@Gmail.com