Hailing merchant mariners

[prayerful_mom]

<p>May 29, 2006
The Navy Times Magazine</p>

<p>Letters</p>

<p>Hailing merchant mariners</p>

<p>Every day, the men and women who proudly wear the uniform of our nation’s military work tirelessly around the world. They ensure our national security, spread democracy and preserve the American way of life. Some even pay the ultimate sacrifice. We hail them as heroes, and rightfully so.</p>

<p>But not all heroes wear military uniforms or even work for the government. Often overlooked but no less important are U.S. merchant mariners. </p>

<p>Few people know that May 22 marks National Maritime Day, a special day that recognizes the unsung heroes of our nation’s maritime industry who work side by side with our military to uphold freedom and democracy. These highly skilled seamen, just as the generations of mariners who preceded them, operate around the world 24/7, going in harm’s way to keep U.S. forces supplied and combat-ready. </p>

<p>Their history of service is legendary. U.S. merchant mariners have never shied away from the call of duty, honor and country. They have been the backbone of our nation’s maritime service, especially in war. They have served in every U.S. conflict since the birth of our nation. During the Revolutionary War, merchant mariners helped capture the first British vessel, Unity. During World War II, merchant ships faced danger from submarines, mines, armed raiders, destroyers and aircraft. One in 26 mariners died while serving in World War II, putting the death toll at 8,380 — a per-capita death rate second only to th e Marine Corps. </p>

<p>During the past year alone, mariners distinguished themselves in the performance of their jobs with the highest level of professionalism, competence and dedication. In the recovery and relief efforts following Hurricane Katrina, five of the 15 Navy ships on the Gulf Coast were Military Sealift Command ships crewed with U.S. merchant mariners.</p>

<p>The cargo ship Pollux remained pierside in the New Orleans area during Katrina, while mariners provided shelter to emergency responders, fuel to power emergency generators at local hospitals and water pressure to keep kidney dialysis machines operating until arrangements could be made to evacuate patients. In just one week, the crew provided more than 220,000 gallons of much- needed diesel fuel. </p>

<p>In Pascagoula, Miss., the hospital ship Comfort’s medical staff treated patients, while mariners rebuilt a local church. Other MSC ships and crews provided food, fuel and supplies to Navy ships in the area.</p>

<p>Escalating piracy off the coast of Somalia, in Indonesia and Malaysia continues to affect trading routes, yet U.S. merchant mariners work in these waters every day to help deliver goods that fuel our nation’s participation in the global economy. </p>

<p>MSC is the ocean transportation provider for the Defense Department and the largest employer of U.S. oceangoing merchant mariners today — more than 50 percent of them. MSC’s 120 active ships, all crewed by commercial or federally employed mariners, move millions of tons of military equipment and supplies by sea every year to deployed U.S. war fighters. </p>

<p>They crew the sealift ships that deliver billions of gallons of fuel, combat vehicles and equipment in support of the global war on terrorism. U.S. civil service mariners pre-position these supplies around the world for use by the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps whenever and wherever they are needed. Civilian mariners crew MSC ships and deliver the goods, anywhere and everywhere in the world. </p>

<p>Today’s merchant mariners continue in the proud tradition of those who have served the nation on the high seas for centuries and will continue for generations to come. They willingly go in harm’s way to preserve our freedoms and help our nation prosper. They have the experience, knowledge and commitment to deliver on time, every time, everywhere. On May 22, we honor them, thank them and say, “Well done, shipmates, well done.”</p>

<p>Rear Adm. Robert D. Reilly Jr.</p>

<p>Commander, Military Sealift Command</p>

<p>Washington, D.C.
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[system]

<p>What a great article!! Printed this out for the hubby. It's sad that the facts are so little known out there and that the Merchant Marine Vets had to fight for benefits. What an amazing group, "our" Merchant Marines! Well done!</p>

[fred56]

<p>I just have a minor correction. The Marines lost around 2.9% of their force to battle deaths during World War II, while the Merchant Marine lost 3.9%. This is according to the Armed Forces Statistics in the World Almanac.</p>

<p>Every single death left a crying mother, wife or loved one and no organization did more for their country during World War II than the Merchant Marine.</p>

[system]

<p>"no organization did more for their country during World War II than the Merchant Marine." I so agree Fred. Without them, I'm sure that the war would have been lost. My Grandmother fondly remembers some Merchant Marine guys as being rough & tumble (Grandfather was Navy). She's shared some of their stories and told me how gallant they were in their bravery. I enjoy learning more & more about them. Started a collection of books relating to them so that my kid may have them for his library some day. In a small town here in SC, there is a Merchant Marine flag that flies over their town square along with the American flag. Its one of the few places I've ever seen that has one.</p>