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Merchant Marine included in WWII memorial dedication (5/11)

The U.S. Maritime Administration reports that U.S. Merchant Mariners will get some long overdue recognition later this month when U.S. Maritime Administrator Captain William G. Schubert represents them during the Memorial Day dedication of the new WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C. Schubert, in his role as maritime administrator, will represent the U.S. Merchant Marine as chief of service during the ceremony on May 29. “Merchant mariners crewed the Liberty ships, the Victory ships, and thousands of other ships that carried troops and many tons of materiel for the Allied cause in World War II,” MarAd noted in a recent news release announcing its participation in the dedication. “Nearly 215,000 people served in the U.S. Merchant Marine in World War II, and almost one mariner in 30 died in the line of duty. The Merchant Marine suffered higher casualty rates than any branch of the Armed Services except the Marine Corps.” More than 1,200 members of the Seafarers International Union gave their lives in World War II. Joining Schubert will be Vice Admiral Joseph D. Stewart, superintendent, who will represent the Merchant Marine Academy, along with the superintendents of the academies for the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. “The contribution of merchant mariners to the war effort has too often been overlooked. Their inclusion on the memorial and in the ceremonies is a fitting tribute to the sacrifices made by the merchant marine," said Captain Schubert. A total of 733 American cargo ships were lost to enemy action during WWII and more than 6,000 civilian American seafarers were killed. Thousands were injured during attacks and nearly 600 were held as prisoners of war. “Merchant mariners are consistently first in, last out,” Schubert added. “In World War II, they were the ones carrying cargo across the North Atlantic to Britain, and making the runs to Murmansk before the United States entered the war. And when the war was over, it was the merchant marine who also brought the troops home.” The Maritime Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, promotes a healthy U.S. Merchant Marine and maritime industry.