Our Blog
We know it’s important for our members to stay in the loop, so we endeavor to update our American Merchant Marine Veterans blog frequently. Give our current articles and journal entries a read!
Our Inspiration
Every single one of our members has a story to tell. We’re never hard pressed for an idea when faced with the stories, memories, trials, and tribulations our seamen share. Tales of triumph, tales of sorrow, funny anecdotes—we want to hear them all. We want to tell your story!
But our writing won’t stop there. We would feel lost and disconnected today without coverage of our many events. Our hope is to chronicle every memorial, every overdue honor, and every spirited gathering our members participate in. Relevant current events won’t stay to the wayside either—we’ll keep you up to date on legislation efforts and other news pertinent to our organization in general.
In short, we’re quite lucky to have such a plethora of muses. Our inspiration for maintaining this blog will always be you: our beloved family of Veterans. Our history drives our service, and our members drive our memories.
Our Articles
New Orleans Book Signing of “The Mathews Men”
Mathews County, Virginia, is a remote outpost on the Chesapeake Bay with little to offer except
unspoiled scenery, but it sent one of the largest concentrations of sea captains and U.S. merchant mariners of any community in America to fight in World War II. The Mathews Men tells that heroic story through the experiences of the extraordinary Hodges family and their seven seafaring sons.
Author William Geroux Shares Little-Known WWII Story
One of the last unheralded heroic stories of World War II: the U-boat assault off the American coast against the men of the U.S. Merchant Marine who were supplying the European war, and one community’s monumental contribution to that effort.
Korean Service – Status Report for Veteran Recognition
Group Application to Secretary of the Air Force seeking recognition of the oceangoing service of American Merchant Seamen employed by the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) and by commercial shipping lines aboard public and private vessels of United States registry and sailing in direct support of the Armed Forces of the United States during the “Korean Conflict” (defined by the Department of Veterans Affairs for benefit purposes as 27 June 1950 to 31 January 1955, inclusive).
Just Recognition – Korea & Vietnam
Veteran’s status for Korea and Vietnam is still stuck. We were rejected for the second time by the Air Force C/MSRB (Civilian/Military Service Review Board) because their staff judged that we did not have evidence of the service but only claims without documents to support our position that Merchant Mariners were under DOD orders, subject to Military Code of Justice, and on and on.
Don Scafidi
AMMV member, marine artist Don Scafidi, is offering artistically created cards at a great price.
Torpedoed For Life
I write this to encourage you to buy and read this newest WWII Merchant Mariner book, “TORPEDOED for LIFE”. This book is different than others written on the MM fight for recognition as Veterans in WWII. Although it includes some relevant life experience stories which reflect the worthiness of the stand for Just Recognition, it also includes the story of our efforts in congress over the last ten years trying to get “OUR” congress to finally pass some form of Just Recognition.
The Sea is My Brother
Suffering the highest casualty rate of all the services, the WWII Merchant Marine played a critical role in transporting troops, tanks, airplanes, and supplies needed to bring about the Allied victory.