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I joined the Merchant Marine in 1944 as a 16 yr. old kid who wanted to do what he could to help his country. I had only one-eye but was accepted, and sent to a maritime training school in N.Y. (Sheepshead Bay). Got my papers as a 2nd Cook & Baker, Messman, Ordinary Seaman, Wiper & most importantly my Lifeboatman's papers. Started going to sea in about April of 1945 and served on a number of Liberty ships, a Victory Ship, T-2 Tankers and even an old WW I built Liberty, the Wolverine which had been put back into service. Each of these ships had anywhere from 12 to 25 U.S.Navy Gunners serving on them, and between both groups of sailors warded off the enemy whenever needed. The Merchant Marine lost some 866 ships during WW II along with over 8,000 men & boys. The Navy Gunners lost over 1,800 of their men also. I was both thankful and proud to have served my country, especially alongside of those navy sailors. We worked hand in hand, like we were always one. Most of the regular Navy personnel didn't even know that we had them onboard with us. We worked and died together for the same cause. Only 43 Merchant Seamen with those navy Gunners and we could and did take 97% of everything and everybody wherever they & it had to go. I saied until the end of 1949 when the U.S.Gov't. was in the process of giving many of our ships to foreign countries, and we lost so many jobs to them. Still today there are only some 247 American Flagged merchant ships on the high seas. God help us should we ever need them again to haul the needed supplies to and for our troops. During the Desert Storm incident of the 80 some ships carrying the needed supplies, only 20 were under the American Flag, with american Seamen.. "GOD HELP US NEXT TIME". Harold "BUD" Schmidt Sr. A PROUD American Merchant
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Last updated 24 July 1998 |
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