[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1125-E1126]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

IN TRIBUTE TO THE U.S. MERCHANT MARINE IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR

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HON. NORMAN Y. MINETA

of california

in the house of representatives

Wednesday, May 24, 1995
Mr. MINETA. Mr. Speaker, today, we observe National Maritime Day to
pay honor and tribute to those who served our country in the merchant
marine during the Second World War.
We have observed this day since 1945, when President Franklin D.
Roosevelt, by proclamation, designated this day. For our observance
this year, the 50th since the end of the war, the Administrator of the
Maritime Administration, Vice Adm. Albert J. Herberger, has written a
moving tribute to the merchant mariners who gave of themselves a half-
century ago. It is my pleasure to share this tribute with my
colleagues:
The Merchant Marine During World War II

By Maritime Administrator Albert J. Herberger)

Fifty years ago, America celebrated National Maritime Day
in inland cities such as Kansas City, Akron and Salt Lake
City, as well as in the Nation's Capitol and many port
cities.
Governors of West Virginia, Nebraska, New Mexico and
Indiana joined their coastal colleagues in issuing
proclamations or statements honoring those who built and
sailed the merchant ships so vital to the war effort.
The President, too, asked the people of the United States
to observe May 22, 1945 as National Maritime Day. It was the
last proclamation issued by Franklin D. Roosevelt.
In his Maritime Day proclamation, President Roosevelt
saluted the ``. . . many thousands of patriotic men and women
[who] are toiling through the long hours of the day and night
in the construction of the great fleets of vessels that carry
the goods of victory to the distant battlefronts of the
United Nations . . .
``Our ships, sailing every ocean, have been manned by
courageous officers and seamen all of whom have left the
security of their firesides and many of whom have given their
lives for the land of their allegiance. . . .''
Many civilian American seafarers made the ultimate
sacrifice; more than 6,000 were killed, and 733 American
cargo ships were lost to enemy action.
Thousands were injured during attacks. Many were forced to
wait aboard lifeboats and rafts, hoping for rescue after
their vessels were lost.
The story of Capt. James F. Harrell, master of the SS GULF
STATES, was told in this contemporary account:
``Proceeding in convoy through an area of enemy submarine
activity, he sighted, at a great distance, two drifting
lifeboats heavily loaded with survivors apparently too
exhausted to signal. Though fully aware of the danger to his
own ship, he obtained permission from the Commodore to leave
the protection of the convoy and succeeded in taking aboard
106 survivors of a torpedoed Dutch ship in a rescue operation
which required three hours to effect.
``On a subsequent voyage, his ship, carrying 78,000 barrels
of crude oil, was hit by two torpedoes. Fire immediately
enveloped the entire after part of the ship trapping all but
the Master and eleven of his crew.
``Captain Harrell directed the launching of the one
remaining life raft, ordered the men with him over the side,
and chose to give his life in a heroic attempt to rescue the
trapped men.''
Capt. Harrell was one of nine officers and seamen of the
nation's wartime merchant fleet who were awarded the merchant
marine distinguished Service Medal during May 1945. His was
presented posthumously to his wife, Alice Harrell, of Port
Arthur, Texas.
Another recipient was Paul Irwin Valentine, of Tiffin,
Ohio. He served as second cook and baker aboard the SS DANIEL
HUGER. Following is his story, as recounted in 1945:
``His ship was subjected to a two-hour high level bombing
attack by seventeen enemy planes. As a result of a near miss,
bomb fragments pierced the hull and the cargo of high octane
gasoline exploded.
``Despite heroic efforts to combat the flames two to three
hundred feet high, the fire was soon out of control and the
ship was abandoned.
``Upon arrival of the shore fire brigade it was decided to
try to save the ship with foamite. It was necessary to have a
few men return to the ship, enter the adjacent hold, and play
a hose on the heated bulkhead to prevent the raging fire from
spreading.
``Second Cook and Baker Valentine was one of four who
volunteered to risk his life in an attempt to save part of
the cargo, which was so necessary to the continuance of war
operations. That the fire was eventually brought under
control and most of the cargo saved, was due in no small
measure to his outstanding bravery.''
As the citation issued to him 50 years ago said, ``His
willingness to risk his life to save his ship, and his heroic
conduct during the fire are in keeping with the finest
traditions of the sea.''
These are just two examples of the heroism of America's
civilian seafarers. From the beginning of the war to May 31,
1945, awards to merchant mariners included 113 Distinguished
Service Medals, 11 Meritorious Service Medals, 3,893
Mariner's Medals, 32 congratulatory letters, 192,282 Merchant
Marine emblems, 84,697 combat bars, 5,957 defense bars and
363,292 was zone bars for service in the Atlantic, Pacific,
or Mediterranean-Middle East war zone bars.
Merchant mariners came from all parts of the country to
serve the nation. Those receiving awards in May 1945
represented the states of Alabama, California, Colorado,
Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts,
Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey,
New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode
Island, South Carolina, [[Page E1126]] Texas, Virginia and
Washington, as well as the District of Columbia and the then-
territory of Hawaii.
As has been the case in recent years, virtually all 1995
National Maritime Day observances will be in port cities. In
Washington, D.C., we will remember the war time service of
our merchant mariners at a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol.
No doubt we will recall the Maritime Day tributes received
a half century ago from the leaders of America's armed
forces.
For example, Lieutenant General Alexander A. Vandegrift,
United States Marine Corps Commandant, pointed out how the
Marine Crops had been aided by the merchant marine:
``The men and ships of the Merchant Marine have
participated in every landing operation by the United States
Marine Corps from Guadalcanal to Iwo Jima--and we know they
will be at hand with supplies and equipment when American
amphibious forces hit the beaches of Japan itself. On
Maritime Day we of the Marine Corps salute the men of the
merchant fleet.''
The devotion to duty by the men at sea was praised by the
Supreme Allied Commander, General Dwight D. Eisenhower:
``The officers and men of the Merchant Marine, by their
devotion to duty in the face of enemy action, as well as
natural dangers of the sea, have brought us the tools to
finish the job. Their contribution to final victory will be
long remembered.''
Earlier, ``Ike'' had said, ``When final victory is ours
there is no organization that will share its credit more
deservedly than the Merchant Marine.''
I hope all Americans, whether from desert, mountain, or
prairie regions or coastal states, will pause on National
Maritime Day, May 22, 1995, to remember General Eisenhower's
words and the heroic deeds of our merchant marine war
veterans.
Like our military veterans, they deserve our thanks and our
recognition for securing the freedom we enjoy today.

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