Posted on Dec 2, 2016
U.S. Merchant Seaman Awarded Highest Civilian Medal – gCaptain
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About damned time. Anyone that thinks that Merchant Marines weren't integral to the winning of WW2 needs to pick up a history book.
"Recognition for U.S. Merchant Mariners is overdue and well deserved. Second, to the rest of congress, we need to recognize all Merchant Marine war veterans, not just WWII veterans.
P.S. If you doubt the importance of recognizing WWII Mariners please read The Cruel Sea by Nicholas Monsarrat before emailing us to say I’m off base."
"Recognition for U.S. Merchant Mariners is overdue and well deserved. Second, to the rest of congress, we need to recognize all Merchant Marine war veterans, not just WWII veterans.
P.S. If you doubt the importance of recognizing WWII Mariners please read The Cruel Sea by Nicholas Monsarrat before emailing us to say I’m off base."
U.S. Merchant Seaman Awarded Highest Civilian Medal – gCaptain
Posted from gcaptain.com
Merchant Marines
Naval/Maritime History
Awards
Medals
Edited 8 y ago
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 3
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Your correct, Merchant Marines are important part of our Military to rapid deploy the US war fighting capabilities, and prepare and Build up Battlefield infrastructure, to Fight wars, Conduct Humanitarian Missions, and Disaster Recovery Operations around the world. You guy's are like us do all the heavy lifting and work and others get the glory. The thing I think is funny is no one ever ask how all the Marine Equipment and our Equipment can just show up, and know nothing about MPF ships all over the world. Yes I know about MPF ships as that is part of our SCWS ( SeaBee Combat Warfare Skills) training understand how it works and operational planing of preposition war and disaster Recovery assets.
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SN Greg Wright
Right up until now, Chief. All that materiel in the Middle East didn't show up by itself. And anyone that thinks the AF flew it all in needs a hard look at the numbers regarding how much an airplane can carry vs how much a ship can.
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SN Greg Wright I know that Merchant Mariners paid the highest cost of any service during WWII. Moving cargo in giant targets when wolves are hunting the seas is not a recipe for long term survival. I agree with you: It is absolutely about damned time!
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1stSgt Eugene Harless
I was hesitant to agree with the MM having the highest casualty rate, but the numbers pretty much prove it. I think the thing to bear in mind is that unlike the military services The MM were CONSTANTLY in a combat zone, crossing back and forth the North Atlantic. As soon as they signed on they put to sea and went in harm's way. The military services had long periods of Basic Training, advanced Training and maintained a large presence in the Continental US and in secure forward areas where the chances of hostile actions were minimal.
The war was not only won by fighting but by American Supplies. These Supplies were transported by the MM.
The war was not only won by fighting but by American Supplies. These Supplies were transported by the MM.
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SN Greg Wright
1stSgt Eugene Harless - You're both correct, Eugene. MM's had the highest rate of losses of any of the services, at 3.9%. Next highest was the Marines at 2.94%. For readers who this is surprising to, remember, we're talking ratios here, not linear numbers. Of COURSE Army and Marines lost more numbers in total, but as a percentage of their individual forces, MM's lost the highest.
I would go further to point out that MM's have similarly serviced EVERY armed conflict in our country's history -- even those going on now. Of course, the risk factors for us now are much, much less.
I would go further to point out that MM's have similarly serviced EVERY armed conflict in our country's history -- even those going on now. Of course, the risk factors for us now are much, much less.
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1stSgt Eugene Harless
SN Greg Wright - Actually in Raw numbers the order of highest losses was Army. Navy, then Marines. That's pretty much in line with the Numbers who served. If broken down into smaller sub-units you will find that some individual commands had very high casualty rates. The B-17 crews of the 8th Air Corps had appalling casualty rates in certain periods, and broken down by branch the Air Corps had the most deaths among officers than any others, including the Infantry.
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SN Greg Wright
1stSgt Eugene Harless - You're correct, of course. Raw numbers can't be argued with, and I stand with you on that point. As a ratio, though....well. Those numbers don't lie either. Thing is, most people give credence to those raw numbers (rightfully so), but never look at the ratio (aka SACRIFICE, chances taken) of the MM.
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I read of Merchant Marine support in WW II, Korea and Vietnam and those that supported us by suppying us deserve recognition!
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