US Merchant Marine

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Crane, James Reflections
James Crane would repeat his service in World War II if called upon. The country has been very good to him and his...
Quirk, Clint Reflections
Clint Quirk thought the most enjoyable experience was coming into port and getting drunk. Then getting back on the ship...
Walter, Louis Reflections
Louis John Walter had few of the military benefits as a civilian [Annotator's Note: Walter served in the United States...
Saunders, David Reflections
After separation from the service, David R. Saunders did not take advantage of the G.I. Bill. Saunders' most memorable...
Ross, Hartsel Reflections
Hartsel Ross's most memorable experience of World War 2 was losing his convoy in fog while sailing in the North Sea. He...
Wellington, Harold Reflections
Harold Wellington loved being in the Merchant Marines. He loved the travel and the work. He could not get a job after...
Cole, Wendell Reflections
[Annotator's Note: Wendell Delavan Cole suffers from Parkinson's disease and needs the assistance of his son to...
Whitaker, Harold Reflections and Family
Harold Whitaker does not believe that the story of the veterans of World War 2 has not really been told. He also...
Nelson, Maxwell Reflections of the War
Maxwell Nelson’s most memorable experience of World War 2 was the surrender of Japan [Annotator’s Note: 15 August 1945...
Nunnink, Lawrence Reflections of the War
Gregory Lawrence Nunnink’s most memorable experience of World War 2 was when his ship [Annotator’s Note: SS Glenns...
Lindsey, James Reflections of the War
James T. Lindsey’s most memorable experience of World War 2 was the end of the war while he was in OCS [Annotator’s...
Balabanow, William Reflections on Merchant Marines
William Balabanow has always felt stigma about his service in the Merchant Marine and the negative associations with...
White, Dee Reflections on the War
Dee Wayne White’s most memorable experience of his service was in the Merchant Marine when his ship took on several...
Broll, Walter Release of Mustard Gas at Bari
Walter Broll and the Grace Abbott left Bari the day after the attack. It appeared that the Abbott may have been the...
Crump, Ralph Response to the Attack on Pearl Harbor
When Pearl Harbor was attacked, Ralph Crump said there was "tremendous panic" in the Los Angeles area. They immediately...
Shaw, Roger Return Voyage
Roger Shaw returned to the United States by way of Northern Ireland. The SS George Gayle sailed alone before reaching...
White, Dee Returning Home
Dee Wayne White was discharged from Camp Kilmer, New Jersey in January 1949 with the rank of T/5 [Annotator’s Note:...
Cole, Wendell Returning Home
[Annotator's Note: Wendell Delavan Cole suffers from Parkinson's disease and needs the assistance of his son to...
Campbell, John Roosevelt, Truman and the US Merchant Marine
[Annotator's Note: The interviewer asks John Campbell about the relationship between President Franklin Delano...
Shaw, Roger Round Trip Run to Australia
Roger Shaw was 22 years old when he returned to the United States. When he got back to the United States, he went up...
Campbell, John Second Ship Torpedoed
John Scott Campbell cannot remember the name of his second ship [Annotator's Note: SS Andrew G. Curtin]. [Annotator's...
Langrall, Clarke Second Voyage Aboard the SS Vernon L. Kellogg
On his second voyage [Annotator's Note: as an engineering officer aboard the SS Vernon L. Kellogg], Clarke Langrall was...
Saunders, David Securing Taal Lake and Transporting Japanese POWs
David R. Saunders saw his first combat at Lingayen Gulf [Annotator's Note: Luzon, Philippines]. He was not injured...
Woods, Edward Segment 1
Woods and the interviewer discuss the format for the interview.Edward Thomas Woods was born in 1927 in Manhattan, New...
Crump, Ralph Segment 1
Ralph Crump [Annotators Note: For the first 22:26 of this interview the interviewer and interviewee chat about family...
Crump, Ralph Segment 10
Crump got to Panteloria and was alongside the dock. All of the German prisoners of war did the work. They were younger...
Crump, Ralph Segment 11
Within hours any ship passing the destroyer escorts loaded with prisoners would receive prisoners from those destroyer...
Crump, Ralph Segment 12
One of Crump’s friends was on watch on a ship that was torpedoed. Crump’s convoy had about 35 percent casualties. The...
Crump, Ralph Segment 13
Crump was lucky making the transition from military to civilian life. He had worked in the shipyards prior to military...
Woods, Edward Segment 2
Woods did well in school. He could have gone on to any of the advanced training schools but he volunteered to go out as...
Crump, Ralph Segment 2
Crump was only aware that the Depression was a tragedy. Times were hard. Crump’s dad was unemployed half of the time....
Woods, Edward Segment 3
When Woods would go into Times Square young servicemen would give them trouble about why they weren't in the service....
Crump, Ralph Segment 3
All of the Catholic school teachers were nuns. They were not married. High school teachers in Iowa were required to be...
Woods, Edward Segment 4
Of all the ports Woods visited he liked Panama the best because it was like being back at home. There was a good...
Crump, Ralph Segment 4
Crump had enrolled as a draftsman in the local aircraft plant but in the meantime several of the shipyards had posted...
Woods, Edward Segment 5
Woods was a wiper in the engine room. There were 15 wipers aboard large ships. The wipers reported to the 1st Mate....

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