Two Seafarers are confirmed to be among those permanently memorialized at the South Boston World War II Memorial in South Boston, Mass.Bosun Stanley Peshen and FOWT Arthur Joseph Lyon were among the names of 19 U.S. merchant mariners from South Boston who paid the ultimate sacrifice during World War II. Including the Seafarers and other civilian mariners, the $300,000 memorial—dedicated Oct. 13—bears the names of 215 South Boston men who died during the war.
In addition to Peshen and Lyon, the following names—all merchant mariners—also appear on the memorial: John J. Cannon, William P. Carr, John C. Cathey, Anthony Dobrzinewsky, Patrick J. Feeney, Gerard Finn, John J. Flaherty, William J. Geier Jr., Frederick L. Griffin, John E. Hannigan, Robert P. Holt, Coleman A. Kelly, Michael F. Noonan, Charles A. Sawiskus, Charles J. Shipelis, John R. Thomas and John Vlicokos.
A bronze plaque on the memorial states, “The United States Merchant Marine has faithfully served our country in times of war and peace hauling cargo to every corner of the world.”
More than 6,800 U.S. civilian merchant seamen lost their lives during World War II. Their causality rate was the second highest of any service. Six hundred were taken prisoner and more than 700 of their ships were sunk.
U.S. mariners also played a vital role in the Korean Conflict, especially in the rescue of 14,000 Korean civilians by the SS Meredith Victory. During Vietnam, U.S.-flag ships crewed by civilian seamen carried 95 percent of the supplies used by our Armed Forces.
During the Persian Gulf War, U.S. mariners were vital to the most colossal sealift operation since D-Day. Following the tragic attacks of September 11, professional merchant mariners and midshipmen from the United States Merchant Marine Academy transported people and equipment, and moved food and supplies to lower Manhattan. Their efforts improved rescue operations and helped save many lives.
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