When the United States officially entered World War II following the attack on Pearl Harbor, military mobilization began across the nation.
Some men who were not medically qualified for military service joined the Merchant Marine, instead of the armed forces. Others found their way to the waterfront through recruiting efforts and posters seeking mariners.
In either case, their service was essential to the war effort. Merchant Marines transported eight-thousand tons of cargo every hour, every day and they found themselves in the cross-hairs of enemy subs and U-boats. Off the coast of North Carolina lies the remains of nearly 100 World War II vessels and is the final resting place for nearly 1,700 men.
The seamen of the U.S. Merchant Marine suffered a higher casualty rate than any branch of service. Some estimates indicate that as many as 9,500 perished, nearly one in 26 mariners. However, there is no definitive casualty count because Merchant Mariners worked for both private companies and government agencies.
“They have delivered the goods when and where needed in every theater of operations and across every ocean in the biggest, the most difficult and dangerous job ever undertaken.” President Franklin D. Roosevelt
After the War, there were no parades for the Mariners, and no hiring preference for jobs, either. In fact, many returned to find their contributions to America’s war effort were held in little regard. They received no government pensions, education or other benefits for their service. They also did not receive “credit” for their service, leaving many of them vulnerable for the Korean War draft a few years later.
Efforts to recognize WWII Merchant Mariners as veterans began immediately after the War, but most initiatives failed. After many legislative attempts, the Veterans Programs Enhancement Act passed in 1988 and extended limited veterans rights to Mariners who served during WWII.
Appearing on Smart Talk on Veterans Day to discuss their experience during and after the War are Merchant Mariners Bill Balabanow and Bill Kelley. Joining them to detail the national efforts to recognize Merchant Mariners are Sheila Sova, advocate with the American Merchant Marine WWII Veterans organization and David Alberg, Superintendent of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Monitor National Marine Sanctuary.
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