UPDATED: MILITARY🎖️MEDALS PROGRAM & CONGRESSIONAL GOLD -Effective Monday, Sep 8th, 2025, the medals program will be moved to the “Historian’s Office” at MARAD. The primary contact in that office is: Daniel Roberts - Daniel.roberts@dot.gov

Three WWII Merchant Mariners to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Veterans Day, November 11. Charles Mills, Julian Smith & Dave Yoho are participating in the live stream provided by Arlington National Cemetery available here: dvidshub.net/webcast/38645

U-boats prowled the trade routes. This ship was traveling a coastal route between west African ports so it was more likely to be detected by u-boats.

Miss @shesova Polly, and friends at @USMMWWII, I’m a retired Army chaplain, & son of a MMWWII officer, Jesse E. Milton. I also am a singer-songwriter. Here’s a new sea-going song called “Rosalie.” Hope you can listen here or Apple or Spotify: youtu.be/D4lCvAvIP_w?si…

These photos were taken in Anchorage in late October. Matson’s RJ Pfeiffer is in the foreground, TOTE’s North Star right behind it. #1u #SIU #Seafarers #MyMaritimeCareer

United Seamen's Service: Support for Merchant Mariners. Merchant Seamen received this 48-page booklet, first published in 1943 by the United Seamen's Service, listing sources of help if they developed physical or mental health problems, giving the addresses of residential and U.S. and foreign ports, and explaining what to do if stranded overseas.mcguirelibrary1998.omeka.net/exhibits/show/…

#OTD 8 Nov 1942, U-161 fired four bow torpedoes at convoy ST-40 about 60 miles southwest of Takoradi and heard hits after 4 minutes 30 seconds and 4 minutes 55 seconds. The first torpedo sank the West Humhaw. No Casualties. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_West_H…

We're Not in Minnesota Anymore! - A Merchant Seaman Sees the World. The maiden voyage of the S.S. Segundo Ruiz-Belvis began in Portland in December, 1943, ending in Long Beach, California, in May, 1944. mcguirelibrary1998.omeka.net/exhibits/show/…

Did we mention that recruiting never stops? Here are a couple of pics from a recent event at San Jacinto Maritime College in Houston, featuring our own J.B. Niday, Kevin Sykes, and Anthony Jacobson. #1u #SIU #Seafarers #MyMaritimeCareer

#OTD 7 Nov 1942 The steam merchant ship SS LaSalle was carrying a high-explosive cargo of 6,116 tons of trucks, steel, and ammunition from New York to Cape Town, South Africa. The torpedo ignited the ammunition cargo, causing a massive explosion visible and audible from over 300 ers, 32 crewmen, and 20 armed guards (60 personnel total) were lost. uboat.net/allies/merchan…

Three WWII Merchant Mariners to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Veterans Day, November 11. Charles Mills, Julian Smith & Dave Yoho are participating in the live stream provided by Arlington National Cemetery available here: dvidshub.net/webcast/38645

HOMETOWN HEROES: A Trip Around The World. “That didn’t satisfy the young Walter Early, who said he convinced his parents that if he joined the Merchant Marine, So, he said, it was off to training in Sheep Head Bay, New York. #VeteransDayTribute thecourierexpress.com/the_leader_vin…

S. S. Segundo Ruiz-Belvis: Herman's First Ship Assignment. Built at the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation in Portland, S.S. Segundo Ruiz-Belvis was one of 2,710 Liberty ships built during World War II.mcguirelibrary1998.omeka.net/exhibits/show/…

Fortunately, even tho WW2 took its Toll on the US MERCHANT MARINES ,they regroupped and are serving America .

#OTD 5th Nov 1942 when on route from Curacao for Guantanamo Bay carrying a cargo of fuel oil she was torpedoed by U-129 and sunk. Fireman/ Wiper Theodore Cowing was the lone casualty. Crew 50 (1 dead and 49 survivors).
uboat.net/allies/merchan…

Robert Franklin Lanning, USNR of Chicago IL, was a Seaman First Class on the SS Fort Lee. He died Jan 31st, 1945 as Japanese prisoner of war on Soemba Island, Indonesia. #POW Line 17 he was part of the gun crew age 19. #Remembering 🙏

I was friends with a Kings Pointer, Jim Risk, who made the run to Murmansk. Incredible stories he told me of the sacrifices made.

#OTD 4 Nov 1942 the unescorted William Clark was hit on the port side amidships by one of three torpedoes from U-354 off Jan Mayen Island. Headed to Murmansk, the Liberty ship broke in two forward of the midship house and sank in a few minutes. Crew 71 (31 dead and 40 p uboat.net/allies/merchan…

Several documents available online regarding the East Indian. The U.S. government requisitioned the Ford Motor Company's ocean-going freighter East Indian for wartime service. Newly fitted with anti-submarine and anti-aircraft guns, the freighter left for the Indian Ocean in May n returned to America, the ship was sunk by a German U-boat. Four lifeboats with survivors were lost, but crew members on a fifth were rescued after being adrift nearly two weeks.
thehenryford.org/search?Tab=col…

#OTD 3 Nov 1942 the unescorted East Indian was torpedoed by U-181 about 300 miles southwest of the Cape of Good Hope. The master, 15 crewmen and seven passengers did not leave and went down with her. The remaining survivors on the rafts were never seen again. A total of six med guards and ten passengers were lost. Crew 74 (58 dead and 16 survivors). #Remember 🫡🇺🇸⚓️ uboat.net/allies/merchan…

What happened to the six lifeboats on the SS Fort Lee? Fort Lee’s final mission came as she traveled across the Indian Ocean—an ocean that has been called the“forgotten battlefield” of World War II. @TaraRoss
taraross.com/post/tdih-ss-f…