Comments on: WWII Merchant Mariners Get Long-Deserved Recognition As Combat Veterans /wwii-merchant-mariners-get-long-deserved-recognition-as-combat-veterans/ Honoring the men and women who served so bravely in our Armed Forces Fri, 03 Jul 2026 15:57:32 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.4 By: Brad Zeigler /wwii-merchant-mariners-get-long-deserved-recognition-as-combat-veterans/#comment-47917 Fri, 03 Jul 2026 15:57:32 +0000 /?p=4106#comment-47917 My father Ray Zeigler and his best friend Bob Thomson joined the merchant marines because my father had heart issues due to having romantic fever when he was young and could not serve in other armed branches. Dad was restricted to shore duty but Bob crossed the North Atlantic 46 times. They got no respect from the so-called armed forces even though their merchant marines had a higher death rate than any armed branches. Bob was called up during the Korean War and died there. My dad grieved the loss of his best friend until he died in 2007. I am glad the mercant marines have finally been recognized for their service. Moody county South Dakota has always recognized their service on the war memorial there.

]]> By: Terry Wilson /wwii-merchant-mariners-get-long-deserved-recognition-as-combat-veterans/#comment-47479 Sat, 27 Jun 2026 15:09:20 +0000 /?p=4106#comment-47479 My dad Frederick Charles Wilson was a merchant marine in WW2 and the Korean War and passed on 08/08/1988 and received no recognition , honors,,or no military funeral or anything .. I would love to see him honored in some way for his service and sacrifices

]]> By: Gail Barker /wwii-merchant-mariners-get-long-deserved-recognition-as-combat-veterans/#comment-25622 Wed, 02 Jul 2025 22:38:14 +0000 /?p=4106#comment-25622 My father was supposedly in the Merchant Marines. We never got /had any information about it ….other than he was brought home when his father was killed. Is there somewhere I can do research to try and find out about his service?

I never even knew who/what the merchant marines were bc it was always such a protected secret in my family.

]]> By: Karen Nelson Valdez /wwii-merchant-mariners-get-long-deserved-recognition-as-combat-veterans/#comment-21539 Sat, 26 Apr 2025 21:48:26 +0000 /?p=4106#comment-21539 In reply to John R. Finegan.

Valdez1014@gmail.com

]]> By: Janis /wwii-merchant-mariners-get-long-deserved-recognition-as-combat-veterans/#comment-12329 Wed, 10 Jul 2024 15:51:37 +0000 /?p=4106#comment-12329 In reply to Darlene Lichtenberger.

You may request your father’s DD-214 (discharge papers) from the website below Any medals will be listed there.
Good luck!

]]> By: Darlene Lichtenberger /wwii-merchant-mariners-get-long-deserved-recognition-as-combat-veterans/#comment-11813 Tue, 25 Jun 2024 19:40:50 +0000 /?p=4106#comment-11813 My father served during WWII in the Merchant Marines. I would like to know if he received a medal. Or if Medals were awarded to servicemen even after they died. His name:
James Hurbert Garns from Ohio

]]> By: Jeanette /wwii-merchant-mariners-get-long-deserved-recognition-as-combat-veterans/#comment-5913 Wed, 16 Aug 2023 05:32:16 +0000 /?p=4106#comment-5913 My Uncle Allen E. Danchak was the Chief Mate on the Gurney E. Newlin Steam tanker, attacked on 28 Oct, 1942. Their ship was sunk and many were rescued.
Unfortunately, the second ship he was on was also sunk and all souls perished.
We have always wondered if he and his crew were memorialized anywhere.
We have the letter sent to his mother with the info on his passing but nothing else.
I would love to be able to honor him at any memorial.
May he rest in peace.

]]> By: John R. Finegan /wwii-merchant-mariners-get-long-deserved-recognition-as-combat-veterans/#comment-4087 Sun, 05 Mar 2023 16:17:48 +0000 /?p=4106#comment-4087 Good afternoon,
My father trainer at what is now the USMMA (King’s Point) in 1940. He was commissioned as a LT JG and sailed the North Atlantic under the Lend Lease policy. He was also commissioned in the US Navy. He saw action in the Mediterranean as well as the MidEast. Under this new designation, would I as his son be able to apply for his Gold Medal (bronze version), and if so, how? Thank you in advance. John R. Finegan, Southbury, CT

]]> By: Michael Cox McKague /wwii-merchant-mariners-get-long-deserved-recognition-as-combat-veterans/#comment-4086 Sun, 05 Mar 2023 15:18:22 +0000 /?p=4106#comment-4086 In reply to Juergen H Thode.

Jerr/Juergen:
You and I were in Team 96, IV Corps in early 1968 during and after Tet. Amazing we’re still able to reconnect. I have a goofy picture of you driving a Saigon cyclo with your devilish and funny grin. Always wanted to find you and SFC Ernest Toby. Mike Garcia and Dale Boatman are still productive and good people. Our DSA, Colonel John FP Hill was buried at Arlington in 2011. Never met a more caring and honorable military or civilian leader.
You need your cyclo picture….your family would B love it. Best wishes, Mike Cox McKague

]]> By: Lynn Decker Enyart /wwii-merchant-mariners-get-long-deserved-recognition-as-combat-veterans/#comment-3643 Thu, 29 Dec 2022 20:29:33 +0000 /?p=4106#comment-3643 My Dad was in the Merchant Marines during WWII but he was not notified of the recognition. Who can we contact? He is alive and well – turning 95 in Jan. He joined young. Thank you!!

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