Merchant Mariners

[rjtfroggy]

My late father-in-law back during WW11 joined the Merchant Marines, lied about his age and spent the next 3 years all over the Atlantic. He always said that his time in counted as military time served, and he said you worked but it was a good time and time well spent.
Well when he passed guess what, no military records of any kind, so he never got credits for service time, so no veteran benefits whatsoever.

 

[JFrank]

My late father-in-law back during WW11 joined the Merchant Marines, lied about his age and spent the next 3 years all over the Atlantic. He always said that his time in counted as military time served, and he said you worked but it was a good time and time well spent.
Well when he passed guess what, no military records of any kind, so he never got credits for service time, so no veteran benefits whatsoever.

Roger, my father served the military sea lift ( MM) and received full veterans benefits, he traveled the world for 26 years, his main gig was Navagator and once guided the hospital ship Mercy to the gulf war receiving a commendation for desert storm desert shield operations.

 

[DGP4]

My dad joined the Canadian Merchant Navy at 18 before we joined the war and then transferred to the US Merchant Marine. He also transported military supplies during the Korean and Vietnam War. Went on to command and train other masters in operating supertankers around the world. Ended his long career as a harbor pilot. I still miss the old man every day.

 

[pirate ammo]

Roger, my father served the military sea lift ( MM) and received full veterans benefits, he traveled the world for 26 years, his main gig was Navagator and once guided the hospital ship Mercy to the gulf war receiving a commendation for desert storm desert shield operations.

Military Sea Lift Command works directly for the military therefore you do get benefits. I tried to get on with them when I was younger, no luck.

 

[JFrank]

Military Sea Lift Command works directly for the military therefore you do get benefits. I tried to get on with them when I was younger, no luck.

He loved it’ his last gig was Navagator on the USS Narragansett , a 230 ft ocean tug. He once towed the Missouri from Bremerton to somewhere in Cal ( maybe Oakland ) for a refit prior to re commission and duty in the gulf. Iirc ..

 

[Steel Mover]

My uncle was aboard an armed freighter in the north Atlantic on convoy duty for four years. The gun crews were US Navy gunners, the ship's crew were merchant marine. Until late in the war the U-Boat attacks in the Atlantic were on the surface.