Leonard Kowalczyk
When we think about remembering our service men and women this weekend, we think of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. But there is one unit that had more casualties than the four traditional branches of service, this unit was denied veteran status four times by the Civilain Review Board run by the Air Force. Finally, some were granted veterans status on January 19, 1988, more than 40 years after they had served.
What unit was this? The Merchant Marines. The Merchant Marines is not to be confused with the branch of service – Marines. These men were mariners, seafarers, whose job was to transport bombs, gasoline, shells, ammunition, guns, vehicles, planes, medicine, food, and other materials for warfare that our troops on the fronts depended on. Their casualties were higher than any other branch of the service – 1 in 26. Compared to Marines – 1 in 36; 1 in 48; Navy – 1 in 114 and Coast Guard – 1 in 421. (The Air Force became a separate branch after WWII – 1947.)
So as we honor those who served this week-end, let’s not forget those who also served behind the scenes, as well as those who are serving today.
As for the handsome young man in that photo, that would be my Dad, who served as a Merchant Marine, taken in 1944!
June 4, 2009 at 2:03 pm
That’s great you have a photo of your father from during his service! One of our staff members wrote a post on our O Say Can You See Blog about her father, who was a Merchant Marine, and her thoughts about visiting our new exhibit On The Water with her family and experiencing the section on the Merchant Marines. We’d love for you to take a look at her post!
Thanks!
Allison Tara Sundaram
National Museum of American History
June 4, 2009 at 3:20 pm
Thank you for visiting my blog and your comments. I am forwarding the links to my mother and siblings so they will know about the exhibit. The picture is a pastel portrait that one of my cousins found when going through the family photos after her father died. I was thrilled when she gave it to me.