Merchant Marine Survivors Of World War Ii

Author : Michael Gillen
Publisher : McFarland
Page : 216 pages
File Size : 51,6 Mb
Release : 2015-01-02
Category : History
ISBN : 9780786494675

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Merchant Marine Survivors of World War II by Michael Gillen Pdf

World War II could not have been won without the U.S. Merchant Marine. Crewed by civilian seamen in peacetime and carrying much of the nation's ocean-borne commerce, the Merchant Marine became the "fourth arm of defense" in wartime, providing vital support for beachheads in all theaters of operation. Twenty World War II Merchant Marine veterans are featured in this oral history. Most had at least one ship torpedoed, bombed, shelled or mined out from under them--some of them two. Some became prisoners of the Japanese for the duration of the war, working on the infamous River Kwai Bridge. Many spent time on lifeboats or flimsy rafts under harsh conditions; one--Donald Zubrod--endured 42 days in a lifeboat with several others before their eventual rescue, close to death. American merchant mariners suffered a casualty rate that was a close second to the Marine Corps during the war.

Author : Estate of: John Bunker
Publisher : Naval Institute Press
Page : 391 pages
File Size : 55,5 Mb
Release : 2013-01-15
Category : History
ISBN : 9781612512051

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Heroes in Dungarees by Estate of: John Bunker Pdf

A World War II merchant seaman, John Bunker takes a thorough look at the American merchant marines' significant contributions to the war effort. There are plenty of fascinating facts about their extensive supply operations, but the focus of the book is on the men and their often-heroic actions. Bunker draws from his own experiences to describe the action at sea and also includes the personal stories of many other civilian participants. It is an engaging portrayal of the courage, bravery, and ingenuity demonstrated by these merchant seamen. All theaters of operation using U.S. merchant ships are covered; in addition, Bunker provides information on events before the country entered the war when efforts were being made to build more ships and to recruit the men necessary to crew the huge fleet.

Author : George J Billy,Christine M Billy
Publisher : University Press of Florida
Page : 305 pages
File Size : 44,9 Mb
Release : 2008-09-14
Category : History
ISBN : 9780813047904

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Merchant Mariners at War by George J Billy,Christine M Billy Pdf

Thousands of cargo ships sailed in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters of World War II manned by young men who braved blockades, torpedoes, and bombings to deliver vital supplies to the Allied forces and make victory possible. These mariners have received little if any credit; they are the forgotten group of "the greatest generation." Merchant Mariners at War offers firsthand accounts of the wartime experiences of veterans who graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy--the largest supplier of ships' officers in WWII. Gathered over more than a decade at the academy in Kings Point, New York, the interviews offer a unique portrait of the young officers who delivered the vital war materiel and provide a valuable window into the world of the merchant marine during WWII. The stories often include startling accounts of privation and endurance. Their stories give voice to a new perspective on WWII maritime history. Chapters cover such subjects as Liberty ships, U-Boats, the Battle of the Atlantic, D-Day, the Philippines, the vast Pacific, and the Murmansk Run. Throughout the book, interesting anecdotes from the veterans enliven the narrative and add to its contribution to the historical record--heretofore non-existent.

Author : Herman Starnes,Edward Trester
Publisher : Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 51,5 Mb
Release : 2013-10-22
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 1480285234

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Torpedoed for Life by Herman Starnes,Edward Trester Pdf

A good number of Merchant Marine WW II combat veterans have poured out their memories in this book. They tell about what they did on their ships for their country to supply the needs of our fighting men and those of our allies all over the earth. We WW 2 Merchant Marines are all now in our upper 80's & 90's and dealing with medical problems. No one knows how many of us are still alive. Every day we hear that one or more of our WW II sailor comrades have "Crossed the Bar" (passed away). There have been more than 50 Merchant Marine wartime books written over the years since that war. This one may be the last and we will tell our story up to the present. Very few people have heard of these Merchant Mariners or the struggle to obtain recognition and benefits from two generations of forgetful Washington politicians. Ian Allison and this author were very close to that struggle and you can read about it here - unvarnished. We are very proud to have stories about Stanley Willner in Death's Railway and Perry Adam in Little Ships which were written by Gerald Reminick and published by the Glencannon Press, Mr. Walter Jafffe, Publisher, El Cerritto, CA. These gentlemen have wished us well with this book. The Forgotten Heroes, by the well-known author, Mr. Brian Herbert, is the third book we used for expertise on total information about the Merchant Marine. We met Mr. Herbert at the April 18, 2007 House Committee on VA Affairs. He spoke strongly about the treatment and neglect the country had given us. When his verbal time ran out, he continued with a five-page written testimony.This volume's publishing would not be possible without the collection of WW II Merchant Marine information provided by Captain Dave Swan of the St. Johns River Chapter of the AMMV from the Maritime Museum in Jacksonville, FL 32260. The subject of this book is not the U.S. in WW II. Those accounts almost never mention the Merchant Mariners. Our stories are told by these old men who were out there on every ocean before, during and after the US entered the war, 1940-1946. We most certainly acknowledge the contribution of their stories.

Author : B.J. BRYAN
Publisher : Xlibris Corporation
Page : 269 pages
File Size : 48,5 Mb
Release : 2011-03-19
Category : History
ISBN : 9781456877682

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The Ship That Never Was by B.J. BRYAN Pdf

"The United States Merchant Marine provided the greatest sealift in history between the production army at home and the fighting forces scattered around the globe in World War II. The prewar total of 55,000 experienced mariners was increased to over 215,000 through U. S. Maritime Service training programs. Merchant ships faced danger from submarines, mines, armed raiders, and destroyers, aircraft (kamikaze), and the element. About 8,300 mariners were killed at sea, 12.00 wounded of whom at least, 1, 100 died from their wounds, and 663 men and women were taken prisoner. Some were blown to death, some incinerated, some drowned, some froze and some starved. Many died in prison camps or aboard Japanese ships while being transported to other camps. 31 ships vanished without a trace to a watery grave. ( Total killed estimated 9,300) "

Author : Charles Hoffman
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 64 pages
File Size : 48,7 Mb
Release : 2014-07-20
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 1500590142

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My Life As a US Merchant Marine in World War II by Charles Hoffman Pdf

This World War II US Merchant Marine memoir was written by Charles William Hoffman. This highly personal memoir of his days as a young man serving his country reflects the culture of that time. The US entry into WWII required immediate growth of US Merchant Marine capabilities. The Atlantic Ocean was a major strategic battle zone during WWII. The Merchant Marine participated in every landing operation by the US Marine Corps from Guadalcanal to Iwo Jima. It took 15 tons of suppliers to support one soldier for one year at the front. During 1945 alone, the Merchant Mariners delivered 17 million pounds of cargo every hour, including ammunition, airplanes, fuel, PT boats and amphibious craft, tanks, jeeps, trucks, medicines, locomotives and food. Mariners delivered the goods when and where needed in every war theater.Charles W. Hoffman served his country on seven ships, including a United Nations mercy mission and a highly dangerous ammunition ship. He was 1 of only 7 who survived from his original group of 51 young men who left St. Louis, Missouri to serve their country by delivering the goods to serve all warfighters.

Author : Robert M. Browning
Publisher : US Naval Institute Press
Page : 608 pages
File Size : 45,6 Mb
Release : 1996
Category : History
ISBN : UOM:39015037789529

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U.S. Merchant Vessel War Casualties of World War II by Robert M. Browning Pdf

An account of the tremendous losses suffered by the American Merchant Marine during the war, identifying those ships flying under the American flag (including Philippine vessels) that the Coast Guard and the Navy documented as receiving damage or being lost through some action of the enemy, as well as the attendant circumstances of their loss. Browning uses the Coast Guard's determination of a war casualty, rather than the Navy's Survivors Statements, to define the entries. Includes an appended listing of poorly documented losses, and a glossary. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Author : Arthur R. Moore
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 584 pages
File Size : 55,7 Mb
Release : 1983
Category : Merchant marine
ISBN : IND:39000000342613

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"A Careless Word-- a Needless Sinking" by Arthur R. Moore Pdf

Author : United States. Congress. House. Committee on Veterans' Affairs
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 120 pages
File Size : 43,5 Mb
Release : 2008
Category : Merchant mariners
ISBN : PSU:000063508246

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H.R. 23 by United States. Congress. House. Committee on Veterans' Affairs Pdf

Author : The American Maritime History Project
Publisher : Xlibris Corporation
Page : 664 pages
File Size : 42,6 Mb
Release : 2014
Category : Biography & Autobiography
ISBN : 9781493186150

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Braving the Wartime Seas by The American Maritime History Project Pdf

Political and Military Statements in Support of the Thousands of Merchant Mariners Including Those We Honor in This Book Braving the Wartime Seas "The Academy serves the Merchant Marine as West Point serves the Army and Annapolis serves the Navy . . ." (September 30, 1943, dedication of USMMA campus) President Franklin D. Roosevelt "The only thing that ever really frightened me during the war was the U-boat peril." Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill "This is a hundredth gone. Too damned many of these fine lads gone. Wish there was more we could do to minimize losses." Captain Richard R. McNulty, June 16, 1943 Note on report of death of a Cadet-Midshipman "They have brought us our lifeblood and they had paid for it with some of their own . . . they have delivered their cargoes to us who needed them so badly. In war it is performance that counts." Quotes from Douglas MacArthur, General of the U.S. Army "Yours was the first front on every ocean, and without you, no Army and Navy can survive . . . one of the vital teams participating will be recognized as the merchant seamen in dungarees . . . we of the Navy will salute you with a final 'Well done'." Admiral Harold R. Stark, Commander of U.S. Naval Forces in Europe "Our operations would not have been possible without the strong support of our Merchant Marine. These gallant officers and men maintained a bridge of ships across the Pacific, and bore their share of the Japanese attacks while unloading on distant islands where the struggle was still intense and the issue not yet decided." Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, U.S. Navy, Chief of Naval Operations Braving the Wartime Seas is the final book of the American Maritime History Project, a private nonprofit foundation. The quotations were drawn from www.usmm.org. Front cover was designed by Marek Mutch, Bay Village, OH.

Author : Philip Kaplan,Jack Currie
Publisher : White Lion Publishing
Page : 232 pages
File Size : 45,7 Mb
Release : 1998
Category : History
ISBN : STANFORD:36105023169522

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Convoy by Philip Kaplan,Jack Currie Pdf

The ships and men of the Allied merchant navies. Without the British Merchant Navy, the American Merchant Marine and the Canadian Merchant Navy, Britain could not have survived even a few weeks of war.

Author : John Bunker
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 312 pages
File Size : 50,6 Mb
Release : 1972
Category : History
ISBN : UOM:39015027331407

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Liberty Ships by John Bunker Pdf

Author : Arthur R. Moore
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 704 pages
File Size : 50,6 Mb
Release : 2006
Category : Electronic
ISBN : OCLC:866253764

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A Careless Word -- a Needless Sinking by Arthur R. Moore Pdf

Author : G. H. Bennett,Roy Bennett
Publisher : Burns & Oates
Page : 326 pages
File Size : 52,7 Mb
Release : 1999
Category : History
ISBN : UOM:39015047492833

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SURVIVORS: BRITISH MERCHANT SEAMEN by G. H. Bennett,Roy Bennett Pdf

Winning the Battle of the Atlantic was critical to Britain's survival in the Second World War. The British Merchant Navy suffered enormous losses of both ships and men, particularly in the early years of the war. Sailing through U-boat wolf-packs across the Atlantic, or on the perilous routes to Malta and Murmansk, took a special kind of courage. Ships often sank within minutes of being torpedoed. Survivors is the history of this epic struggle. It is a graphic account of how the ships were attacked and sunk, how crews reacted, how they attempted to launch their lifeboats and how they ended up swimming or clinging to debris, or making long voyages in lifeboats or on rafts. Death might come at any stage, yet the will to live and the resourcefulness and skill of the seamen enabled a surprising number to survive. "There was a terrific smash and everything was pandemonium on deck. The wheel house collapsed on top of me and I was trapped by the concrete slabs which had fallen on me and pinned me to the deck. I think that the ship sank in about thirty seconds after breaking in two ... Although I was trapped, I could see everything over my head. The stern burst into flames and I saw flames forward. I could see the water coming up and coming over my head. The ship hit the bottom and turned over, the debris was thrown off me and I was released and I came to the surface."--Sinking of SS Abukir, 28 May 1940

Author : John Van Wyck Gould
Publisher : AuthorHouse
Page : 174 pages
File Size : 48,8 Mb
Release : 2015-08-04
Category : Fiction
ISBN : 9781504921312

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Last Ship from Rangoon by John Van Wyck Gould Pdf

On March 7, 1942, in the midst of WWII, a British merchant ship fled Burma (now Myanmar) only minutes ahead of the invading Japanese army. This vessel, the last ship from Rangoon, acts as the starting point for an engrossing account of escape, suspense, hope and courage. In this period largely undocumented by American literature, fear and desperation invade the lives of British Merchant seamen as violence threatens their welfare, their ships, and their livelihoods. Last Ship from Rangoon recounts a harrowing tale of 132 seamen’s arduous efforts to return to England; imprisoned by the Senegalese, these men must flee from an inescapable French prison and hack their way through dense jungle toward the English colony of Gambia. Based upon the story of a retired British Merchant Marine seaman, whom he met whilst traveling in South East Asia, John Van Wyck Gould has crafted a tale of adventure, courage, hardship, and survival.