I would like to tell you that I have located my father's records for his Merchant Marine service in 1942-1943. My father being from Brooklyn, New York, served on an oil tanker, and he was on a ship torpedoed on February 7, 1942 in the North Atlantic near Northern Ireland. My father was on a liberty ship in 1943. I contacted the Maritime Service by letter and they referred my letter to the right organization who found my father's record. It was a great day to get these records. LJT
My father from Brooklyn, NY was on a merchant marine ship during WWII 1941-1943 which was hit by a torpedo.He departed ship at Mare Island San Francisco, CA I request online Vetrecs for records in his name, but have not received anything yet. Does you know how to get records from WWII? Is it Coast Guard? Do you know how to get records from United Fruit or other companies ships? My father had a passport. Any info would be great. Thank you Howard for the tapes. Laura
absolutly right, merchant sailors have unfortunatly been ignored by history, my grandfather was a merchant marine engineer(joseph patrick Madigan from the bronx NY) and i was always proud to say he was a World War 2 veteran even if the US didnt't recognize it until the 1980s
@coxx5150 I am trying to find records on my father's merchant marine service 1941-1943. Please let me know if you know where I can write. He was from Brooklyn New York and was on a ship hit by a torpedo. I do not know what ship he was. I only know he got off the ship at San Francisco, CA. Please let me know any info you can. LJT
Thank you for your comment. Yes, some ships simply vanished.sunk by a torpedo in a remote area of the sea, and perhaps the sub was later sunk, so that no record of the sinking existed. When Navy ships dropped depth charges after detecting a sub below, it was also hard for any seaman not to feel a surge of sympathy for those seamen who manned them, as that too was an often slow but violent way to lose one's life, especially those who were perhaps 17 or 18 or 19, as many of us above were too.
I hope you are doing well. Your video was so special to me, because my father was on a merchant ship during WW2. His ship was hit by a torpedo. I do not know which ship he was on but am sure he went to Sheepshead Bay like you to board ship. He was born in Brooklyn and livd on Henry Street, Brooklyn, Kings County, NY. My father said he was rescued at sea after the torpedo. I do not know anything about how my father joined the ship and what his status was aboard.. Thank you so much. Laura
Please let me know if you worked for United Fruit or when you got your merchant marine certificate were you considered a U. S. serviceman or merely an individual who was to get a job on a compay ship? I am trying to find records about my father who was from Brooklyn NY. I do not know where to write to get any info about his wartime ship work. He was born 1921 and was on ship that was hit by torpedo in 1941-1943. Where are your meetings held. Can I write the group? Thanks. LJT
Many of the merchant marines died and vanished into the oceans, either the cold waters of the Atlantic or elsewhere. It must have been a scary thing to embark on those trans-Atlantic voyages with the risks involved, u-boats and other threats. Although I'm not American or English I still respect these sailors and their input into ending the war and saving many lives with their efforts.
My dad, served in the Merchant Marine during WWII. He was a fireman on a ship in the Pacific Ocean. I fondly remember his tale while on board when the only fresh fruit they could get for several months was pineapple. He said they had pineapple for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for months. Needless to say, we didn't eat much pineapple growing up because Dad was still sick of it
Thank you so much for the video. My grandpa was a merchant marine during WW2. He lives in Madison, Wisconsin to this day. I believe he was about 18 or 19 years old when he was off to help with the war. He was on the ship called the "alamo" but unfortunatly it was torpedoed and it sank. His name is Henry fredrick fuller. He was out at sea from 1943-1946. Maybe you know him?
That was the S.S. Alamo Victory. However, it was not torpedoed, so it must have been another ship, probably a Liberty ship, that he was on at the time.
He has to be over 84 years old, as I am (85) now, and getting stiff in the joints, arthritic in the fingers, a huffing and puffing when going up the stairs.
I am a U.S. Mearchant Marine Officer now. It is very rare to hear any great stories of how Merchant Marines helped with the war effort. I recently spoke with a man from the VFU. I was amazed to find that the Mercfhant Marines of World War 1and 2 are considered Veterans as well. At least they are given that recognition. Thank you for this video.
Thanks very much. I gave a talk at the Veteran's Building in Solvang, CA today, on the local VFW observance, even though MM vets cannot join the VFW. I acquaint people with what the MM is, and my Veteran's Day talks these past few years have always been well received.
During WWII, we were often referred to as "draft dodgers", but the truth is that guys who could not meet physical requirements for services, might be okay for MM. We had guys as old as 70 on the ships. Are you in N.Y. area?
I currently live on the Alabama - Florida state line. I was in the U.S. Navy Reserves as a Corpsman. I am currently a U.S. Merchant Mariner Officer for three years. I love the Sea and the people who serve on the seas with me .. We are a special breed. Please keep up your work to educate the public. I see you as much a veteran as any other armed forece would be.
Today we had our Merchant Marine/Navy Armed Guard luncheon, which we do every two months, and 24 people showed, 15 of them Merchant Seamen from WWII, 84 to 95 years old. I do the hosting duties. We're an animated group, and Jim Higman, at 95, seems the most active, holds a Chief Engineer's License.
Jim North, another MM, was in Convoy PQ 17, which lost 28 out of 35 ships headed to Murmansk, and out of the 7 remaining, only 3 got home. Bill (?) sat on tons of poison gas and ammo. Good guys.
@Howard128eM If you still write, please let me know about these luncheons and how I can write to these men or you about my father who was on a ship hit by a torpedo. LJT
Another great video that every American should watch. Thanks to you and every other Merchant Seaman from World War II. All gave some and far too many gave all. Thanks.
Thanks for reading, thanks for writing. The anti-war groups want to forget, but there are times that war is thrust upon you, or times when if you make the first thrust, you might avoid worse consequences. All we can ever do is to do our best, make judgment calls and trust that we have made the right decisions. We trusted in our President and I believe that he was right most of the time.
My 94 yoa cousin was a Merchant sailor and baker during WWII he had many hair raising journeys across the north Atlantic and to Murmansk. W/O the Merchant Seaman the war would have been lost.
@historynw Please tell me if you have any records from your cousin. Also if you know where to write for merchant marine records and info. Thank you. LJT
I hope they will make a history book about this war it is allmost that the world WANTS to forget about the World War 2, World War 1 is allmost nothing been writen big in years, hope u will make a book about what u experiensed Howard.
No, I cannot do that as my memories of some trips are so hazy. Also, some times there was action far across the convoy, but the rest of us would move onward and leave what happened far behind. The heroes were behind us, trying to save their ship, or abandoning it. It might happen only once in days. The rest of the time was spent watching by the guys on duty. Strange. And all the time nature was either friendly or unfriendly.
My father was born 1927 and joined the Merchant Marines as a high school drop out, straight out of New York. I try every day to get as many stories out of him but he does not spill too much because I guess the memories get to him. Please make more videos related to the Merchant Marines! Thanks and god bless you!
My friend, Jim, who calls me every week to this day, joined the Merchant Marine two days after Pearl Harbor. He became a ship's Captain in five years. I sailed with him on his first command and we became good friends.
Thank you for your great video. My parents next door neighbor is a 92 year old former Merchant Marine. He has told me grea stories of adventure as you have told.
He has also mentioned the sadness that our great country has forgotten the great service provided by the Merchant Marines. His brother, also a Merchant Marine in WW2 was killed at sea.
Thank you for telling your great story.
Thank you to all the Merchant Marines reading this for all your heroic service, USA, UK, etc
Some of our guys, in fact a lot of them, saw action day after day. I only saw sporadic action. But I sailed with two guys who each had five ships sink beneath them. Our Chief Engineer on one voyage lost a ship going to Murmansk, and his rescue ship was sunk on the way back. Both times he survived the cold Artic waters, a native of Alabama.
Two years later I met him again out at sea, off Virginia, as he ran a lifeboat over to our ship to bring us an injured seaman. We had a doctor aboard.
my father was a merchant marine. he served during ww2. he was from nyc. he fought hard to have the merchants recongize. prior to his death, he fought to have the statue place in st george staten island. he was the president of the staten island chapter for some time. wish he was still here.. someone needs to make a movie about the merchants! god bless
Thanks. Sen. Akaka, Hawaii, is blocking any awards for the Merchant Seamen of WWII. I have a friend who sailed on a ship with a wooden gun, no kidding, to scare the subs off! But, they sailed out of every port on the east coast, merchant ships, unarmed, for months after Pearl Harbor. The country simply did not have the guns to arm all the ships, nor did they convoy them across the Atlantic then.
Me dad sailed on the north atlantic convoys right through the war from 1941 aged 15 as a scullion out of Liverpool. Did you that when they were torpedoed and lost their ship that thier pay stopped...so their familes went with nothing.
Heros....what a pity they don't make men and women like that anymore. We owe them our gratitude.
All U.S. merchant seasman had the same experience. Ship sunk, pay stopped. If you drifted a month on a raft, the Navy gunners got paid, you did not. If you went home for your 30 day leave, no pay. Navy and Army men were paid while on leave.
There is a bill before congress now to give the still living merchant veterans a $l,000 a month pension, stalled now for more than two years in committee.
Thanks Howard, I sincerely hope the Bill succeeds mate, but the cynic in me says the politicians will just drag it out until there's nobody left to collect. Alas here in the UK there's no such proposal and anyway it's too late for my poor old dad now I'm afraid.
It's funny but me mum who worked in munitions and packing parachutes during the war gets a small extra pension for her war work, but me dad got nowt.
Did you sail into my home town of Liverpool during the war ?
Yes, I did, because we were having our masthead topped in order to go up to Manchester on the ship canal to unload a cargo of sulphur. Yellow, nauseous stuff. I took a train out of Liverpool down to visit a young lady I'd met in Middlesbrough.
Nice to hear from you. The main lesson we must learn is that freedom isn't free! To maintain freedom, we must have the will and determination to remain free, not give in to potential dictators who promise us an easy life, a guaranteed education and free medical care in return for oour fealty to The All Knowing One.
Mr Morseburg, thank you very much for sharing your experience of the second world war. I've watched your other videos and I believe stories such as these are vital for future generations to hear. I just hope we are capable of listening well enough to learn the lessons of the past.
I would like to tell you that I have located my father's records for his Merchant Marine service in 1942-1943. My father being from Brooklyn, New York, served on an oil tanker, and he was on a ship torpedoed on February 7, 1942 in the North Atlantic near Northern Ireland. My father was on a liberty ship in 1943. I contacted the Maritime Service by letter and they referred my letter to the right organization who found my father's record. It was a great day to get these records. LJT
llm285306 6 months ago
My father from Brooklyn, NY was on a merchant marine ship during WWII 1941-1943 which was hit by a torpedo.He departed ship at Mare Island San Francisco, CA I request online Vetrecs for records in his name, but have not received anything yet. Does you know how to get records from WWII? Is it Coast Guard? Do you know how to get records from United Fruit or other companies ships? My father had a passport. Any info would be great. Thank you Howard for the tapes. Laura
llm285306 8 months ago
absolutly right, merchant sailors have unfortunatly been ignored by history, my grandfather was a merchant marine engineer(joseph patrick Madigan from the bronx NY) and i was always proud to say he was a World War 2 veteran even if the US didnt't recognize it until the 1980s
coxx5150 11 months ago
@coxx5150 I am trying to find records on my father's merchant marine service 1941-1943. Please let me know if you know where I can write. He was from Brooklyn New York and was on a ship hit by a torpedo. I do not know what ship he was. I only know he got off the ship at San Francisco, CA. Please let me know any info you can. LJT
llm285306 8 months ago
Thank you for your comment. Yes, some ships simply vanished.sunk by a torpedo in a remote area of the sea, and perhaps the sub was later sunk, so that no record of the sinking existed. When Navy ships dropped depth charges after detecting a sub below, it was also hard for any seaman not to feel a surge of sympathy for those seamen who manned them, as that too was an often slow but violent way to lose one's life, especially those who were perhaps 17 or 18 or 19, as many of us above were too.
Howard128eM 1 year ago
@Howard128eM
llm285306 9 months ago
I hope you are doing well. Your video was so special to me, because my father was on a merchant ship during WW2. His ship was hit by a torpedo. I do not know which ship he was on but am sure he went to Sheepshead Bay like you to board ship. He was born in Brooklyn and livd on Henry Street, Brooklyn, Kings County, NY. My father said he was rescued at sea after the torpedo. I do not know anything about how my father joined the ship and what his status was aboard.. Thank you so much. Laura
llm285306 9 months ago
@Howard128eM
Please let me know if you worked for United Fruit or when you got your merchant marine certificate were you considered a U. S. serviceman or merely an individual who was to get a job on a compay ship? I am trying to find records about my father who was from Brooklyn NY. I do not know where to write to get any info about his wartime ship work. He was born 1921 and was on ship that was hit by torpedo in 1941-1943. Where are your meetings held. Can I write the group? Thanks. LJT
llm285306 8 months ago
Many of the merchant marines died and vanished into the oceans, either the cold waters of the Atlantic or elsewhere. It must have been a scary thing to embark on those trans-Atlantic voyages with the risks involved, u-boats and other threats. Although I'm not American or English I still respect these sailors and their input into ending the war and saving many lives with their efforts.
KleineHansel 1 year ago
My Dad CW Goodspeed sailed in WW2 John S mosby.Rest in peace dad.
Acaciavet 1 year ago
My dad, served in the Merchant Marine during WWII. He was a fireman on a ship in the Pacific Ocean. I fondly remember his tale while on board when the only fresh fruit they could get for several months was pineapple. He said they had pineapple for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for months. Needless to say, we didn't eat much pineapple growing up because Dad was still sick of it
visualartteacher 1 year ago
While sailing in WWll, did you know Capt. Carl Christensen and Purser Leslie McAuley of United Fruit? My uncles.
40 yr. Merchant Marine myself.
Lurcheng 1 year ago
Thank you so much for the video. My grandpa was a merchant marine during WW2. He lives in Madison, Wisconsin to this day. I believe he was about 18 or 19 years old when he was off to help with the war. He was on the ship called the "alamo" but unfortunatly it was torpedoed and it sank. His name is Henry fredrick fuller. He was out at sea from 1943-1946. Maybe you know him?
And thank you for everything you've done.
burt0n540 2 years ago
That was the S.S. Alamo Victory. However, it was not torpedoed, so it must have been another ship, probably a Liberty ship, that he was on at the time.
He has to be over 84 years old, as I am (85) now, and getting stiff in the joints, arthritic in the fingers, a huffing and puffing when going up the stairs.
Regards, Howard
PS What did he sail as (job)?
Howard128eM 2 years ago
Was your grandfather on the ship when it was torpedoed?
TnicoleV 1 year ago
I am a U.S. Mearchant Marine Officer now. It is very rare to hear any great stories of how Merchant Marines helped with the war effort. I recently spoke with a man from the VFU. I was amazed to find that the Mercfhant Marines of World War 1and 2 are considered Veterans as well. At least they are given that recognition. Thank you for this video.
admiralglenn 2 years ago
Thanks very much. I gave a talk at the Veteran's Building in Solvang, CA today, on the local VFW observance, even though MM vets cannot join the VFW. I acquaint people with what the MM is, and my Veteran's Day talks these past few years have always been well received.
During WWII, we were often referred to as "draft dodgers", but the truth is that guys who could not meet physical requirements for services, might be okay for MM. We had guys as old as 70 on the ships. Are you in N.Y. area?
Howard128eM 2 years ago
I currently live on the Alabama - Florida state line. I was in the U.S. Navy Reserves as a Corpsman. I am currently a U.S. Merchant Mariner Officer for three years. I love the Sea and the people who serve on the seas with me .. We are a special breed. Please keep up your work to educate the public. I see you as much a veteran as any other armed forece would be.
admiralglenn 2 years ago
Today we had our Merchant Marine/Navy Armed Guard luncheon, which we do every two months, and 24 people showed, 15 of them Merchant Seamen from WWII, 84 to 95 years old. I do the hosting duties. We're an animated group, and Jim Higman, at 95, seems the most active, holds a Chief Engineer's License.
Jim North, another MM, was in Convoy PQ 17, which lost 28 out of 35 ships headed to Murmansk, and out of the 7 remaining, only 3 got home. Bill (?) sat on tons of poison gas and ammo. Good guys.
Howard128eM 2 years ago
@Howard128eM If you still write, please let me know about these luncheons and how I can write to these men or you about my father who was on a ship hit by a torpedo. LJT
llm285306 8 months ago
Another great video that every American should watch. Thanks to you and every other Merchant Seaman from World War II. All gave some and far too many gave all. Thanks.
Ethanmor 2 years ago
Hi Howard
check out my clip on canadian merchant Navy let me know what you think
Tks
canBilgerat5519 2 years ago
Thanks for reading, thanks for writing. The anti-war groups want to forget, but there are times that war is thrust upon you, or times when if you make the first thrust, you might avoid worse consequences. All we can ever do is to do our best, make judgment calls and trust that we have made the right decisions. We trusted in our President and I believe that he was right most of the time.
Howard128eM 3 years ago
My 94 yoa cousin was a Merchant sailor and baker during WWII he had many hair raising journeys across the north Atlantic and to Murmansk. W/O the Merchant Seaman the war would have been lost.
historynw 3 years ago 3
@historynw Please tell me if you have any records from your cousin. Also if you know where to write for merchant marine records and info. Thank you. LJT
llm285306 8 months ago
I hope they will make a history book about this war it is allmost that the world WANTS to forget about the World War 2, World War 1 is allmost nothing been writen big in years, hope u will make a book about what u experiensed Howard.
oktimmie 3 years ago
No, I cannot do that as my memories of some trips are so hazy. Also, some times there was action far across the convoy, but the rest of us would move onward and leave what happened far behind. The heroes were behind us, trying to save their ship, or abandoning it. It might happen only once in days. The rest of the time was spent watching by the guys on duty. Strange. And all the time nature was either friendly or unfriendly.
Howard128eM 3 years ago
My father was born 1927 and joined the Merchant Marines as a high school drop out, straight out of New York. I try every day to get as many stories out of him but he does not spill too much because I guess the memories get to him. Please make more videos related to the Merchant Marines! Thanks and god bless you!
hbrecovered 3 years ago
My friend, Jim, who calls me every week to this day, joined the Merchant Marine two days after Pearl Harbor. He became a ship's Captain in five years. I sailed with him on his first command and we became good friends.
He's back east in Conn., and me, in Calif.
Howard128eM 3 years ago
I reside in San Bernardino with my father, who is originally from New York himself.
hbrecovered 3 years ago
@hbrecovered Have you tried to get records on your father's service? If so, please tell where you wrote? Thank you. LJT
llm285306 8 months ago
Dear Sir:
Thank you for your great video. My parents next door neighbor is a 92 year old former Merchant Marine. He has told me grea stories of adventure as you have told.
He has also mentioned the sadness that our great country has forgotten the great service provided by the Merchant Marines. His brother, also a Merchant Marine in WW2 was killed at sea.
Thank you for telling your great story.
Thank you to all the Merchant Marines reading this for all your heroic service, USA, UK, etc
john123wayne 4 years ago
Some of our guys, in fact a lot of them, saw action day after day. I only saw sporadic action. But I sailed with two guys who each had five ships sink beneath them. Our Chief Engineer on one voyage lost a ship going to Murmansk, and his rescue ship was sunk on the way back. Both times he survived the cold Artic waters, a native of Alabama.
Two years later I met him again out at sea, off Virginia, as he ran a lifeboat over to our ship to bring us an injured seaman. We had a doctor aboard.
Howard128eM 3 years ago
my father was a merchant marine. he served during ww2. he was from nyc. he fought hard to have the merchants recongize. prior to his death, he fought to have the statue place in st george staten island. he was the president of the staten island chapter for some time. wish he was still here.. someone needs to make a movie about the merchants! god bless
ftyeggs 4 years ago
Thanks. Sen. Akaka, Hawaii, is blocking any awards for the Merchant Seamen of WWII. I have a friend who sailed on a ship with a wooden gun, no kidding, to scare the subs off! But, they sailed out of every port on the east coast, merchant ships, unarmed, for months after Pearl Harbor. The country simply did not have the guns to arm all the ships, nor did they convoy them across the Atlantic then.
Howard128eM 3 years ago
Me dad sailed on the north atlantic convoys right through the war from 1941 aged 15 as a scullion out of Liverpool. Did you that when they were torpedoed and lost their ship that thier pay stopped...so their familes went with nothing.
Heros....what a pity they don't make men and women like that anymore. We owe them our gratitude.
dufushead 4 years ago
All U.S. merchant seasman had the same experience. Ship sunk, pay stopped. If you drifted a month on a raft, the Navy gunners got paid, you did not. If you went home for your 30 day leave, no pay. Navy and Army men were paid while on leave.
There is a bill before congress now to give the still living merchant veterans a $l,000 a month pension, stalled now for more than two years in committee.
Howard128eM 4 years ago
Thanks Howard, I sincerely hope the Bill succeeds mate, but the cynic in me says the politicians will just drag it out until there's nobody left to collect. Alas here in the UK there's no such proposal and anyway it's too late for my poor old dad now I'm afraid.
It's funny but me mum who worked in munitions and packing parachutes during the war gets a small extra pension for her war work, but me dad got nowt.
Did you sail into my home town of Liverpool during the war ?
dufushead 4 years ago
Yes, I did, because we were having our masthead topped in order to go up to Manchester on the ship canal to unload a cargo of sulphur. Yellow, nauseous stuff. I took a train out of Liverpool down to visit a young lady I'd met in Middlesbrough.
Howard128eM 4 years ago
Thank you very much. Time, for us, is running short. Conress has little concern about the realities of life.
Howard128eM 4 years ago
Mr. Morseburg...Thank you for your service to our country. Those were bitter times. Recognition of the MerchantMarines in the War is long overdue.
joe63383 4 years ago
Nice to hear from you. The main lesson we must learn is that freedom isn't free! To maintain freedom, we must have the will and determination to remain free, not give in to potential dictators who promise us an easy life, a guaranteed education and free medical care in return for oour fealty to The All Knowing One.
Howard128eM 5 years ago
Mr Morseburg, thank you very much for sharing your experience of the second world war. I've watched your other videos and I believe stories such as these are vital for future generations to hear. I just hope we are capable of listening well enough to learn the lessons of the past.
IRONxMortlock 5 years ago