LadyFish
Admiral
- Joined
- Mar 18, 2003
- Messages
- 6,894
I was thinking of a dear friend today who passed away a few years ago. His stories and memories of time spent in the Merchant Marines always fascinated me. We may even have a few MM vets onboard here. Just wanted to take a moment to educate those who may not know much about our Merchant Marines. <br /><br />
<br /><br />What is the Merchant Marine?<br /><br />The Merchant Marine is the fleet of ships which carries imports and exports during peacetime and becomes a naval auxiliary during wartime to deliver troops and war materiel. According to the Merchant Marine Act of 1936: "It is necessary for the national defense... that the United States shall have a merchant marine of the best equipped and most suitable types of vessels sufficient to carry the greater portion of its commerce and serve as a naval or military auxiliary in time of war or national emergency..." During World War II the fleet was in effect nationalized, that is, the U.S. Government controlled the cargo and the destinations, contracted with private companies to operate the ships, put guns and Navy personnel (Armed Guard) on board. The Government trained the men to operate the ships and assist in manning the guns through the U.S. Maritime Service.<br /><br />What do you call people who are in the Merchant Marine?<br />Mariners. Seamen. Seafarers. Sailors. Never marines! Mariners is the preferred designation, just like the Seattle professional baseball team. The term Merchant Marines is incorrect, but sometimes used by some old time mariners.<br /><br />What were Merchant Marine casualties in World War II? revised 10/13/02<br />Unfortunately, the U.S. Merchant Marine has no official historians and researchers, and statistics for WWII vary:<br /><br /> * Mariners killed at sea "direct result of enemy action or as POW on American flag ships" Coast Guard: 5,662<br /> * Mariners killed at sea from war causes, compiled by Captain Arthur Moore: 6,847<br /> * Mariners died from various causes compiled by www.USMM.org: 8,387<br /> * Mariners buried or commemorated in American Battle Monuments Commission National Cemeteries overseas: 595<br /> * Mariners buried ABMC not found on other lists: 483<br /> * Prisoner of War [POW] Coast Guard: 610<br /> * POW compiled by Captain Arthur Moore: 663<br /> * POW compiled by www.USMM.org: 671<br /> * Died as POW Coast Guard: 37<br /> * Died as POW in prison camps or aboard Japanese ships while being transported to other camps, compiled by Captain Arthur Moore : 66<br /> * Died as POW compiled by www.USMM.org: 66<br /> * Wounded, testimony in Hearings before Congress: 12,000<br /> * Died from their wounds in Public Health Hospitals and Allied military hospitals abroad (Estimated --- records apparently destroyed): 1,100 <br /><br />Service Number serving War Dead Percent Ratio<br />M Marine 243,000* 9,487** 3.90% 1 in 26<br />Marines 669,108 19,733 2.94% 1 in 34<br />Army 11,268,000 234,874 2.08% 1 in 48<br />Navy 4,183,466 36,958 0.88% 1 in 114<br />C Guard 242,093 574 0.24% 1 in 421<br />Total 16,576,667 295,790 1.78% 1 in 56<br /><br />*Number varies by source and ranges from 215,000 to 285,000. War Shipping Administration Press Release 2514, January 1, 1946 states 243,000 mariners<br />**Total killed at sea, POW killed,buried in ABMC cemeteries, plus died from wounds ashore
