World War II Mariners Awarded Congressional Gold Medal

American Merchant Mariners who served during World War II were awarded the Congressional gold medal during a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday.

Ten WWII veterans of the U.S. Merchant Marine were in attendence to accept the gold medal award on behalf of all U.S. Merchant Mariners of World War II and the approximately 1,500 living veterans.

Outside of maritime circles, it is not widely known that the U.S. Merchant Marine suffered the higest casualty rate any branch of U.S. military during WWII. Of the 243,000 mariners that served in the war, 9,521 perished while serving, meaning roughly four percent of those who served were killed.

The Merchant Marine risked their lives to provide crucial services to the U.S. military during WWII, operating commercial and non-naval ships to transport soldiers, tanks, airplanes, ammunition, fuel, and food rations to aid soldiers on the front lines. Merchant mariners also experienced some of the earliest action of the war due to German submarines attacking British merchant ships in the Atlantic, disrupting supply chains to American allies.

Yet somehow, these mariners were not even provided veteran status until 1988, nearly 40 years after the war ended.

Read: American Merchant Mariners for the Gold!

In 2020, former President Donald Trump signed into law the bipartisan Merchant Mariners of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act, which was unanimously passed by Congress. Although technically the Gold Medal was granted with the signing of the bill into law, the official award had been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The bravery demonstrated by the U.S. Merchant Mariners to keep Allied Forces supplied during World War II is second to none,” said Dru DiMattia, President of the American Merchant Marine Veterans (AMMV). “In the face of targeted attacks by German submarines and U-boats, the unarmed Merchant Mariners met the moment with resilience and courage, and serve as an inspiration for all of American Maritime.”

Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA) led the bill in the House of Representatives, along with Representatives Don Young (R-AK) and Susan Brooks (R-IN) as cosponsors. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced the bill in the Senate initially in January 2019, along with Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Angus King (I-ME), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) as original cosponsors. The bill went on to gain a total of 73 cosponsors in the Senate.

#MerchantMariners delivered critical supplies during #WWII. Their jobs carried tremendous risk with a high casualty rate.

Today, WWII merchant mariners will receive the Congressional Gold Medal. Watch the event at 11:00 AM EDT!

— Department of Defense ?? (@DeptofDefense) May 18, 2022

The #MerchantMariners of WW2 supplied our armed forces around the world while suffering the highest casualty rate of any branch.

We are grateful for their service and sacrifice and this recognition is long overdue.

Watch the Gold Medal ceremony here: https://t.co/QxUwWH2wvM https://t.co/amgulzrMt2

— Rep. Elaine Luria (@RepElaineLuria) May 18, 2022

A video of the award ceremony is below:

Join Congressional Leadership, Members of Congress and me at the U.S. Capitol to honor the Merchant Mariners of World War II for their heroism and courage and present them with the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest honor Congress can bestow. https://t.co/m7BYAQ9MS2

— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) May 18, 2022

S.S. Quaker City Torpedoed 5/18/42 #Freighter Crew 40 (11 dead and 29 survivors). The explosion shattered the propeller, the rudder and the after part of the ship and killed ten crewmen.https://t.co/rqgVRjfa73 pic.twitter.com/OKS7gQVFPE

— AMMV (@AMMWWII) May 18, 2022

M/S Mercury Sun Torpedoed 5/18/42 #Tanker Crew 35 (6 dead and 29 survivors). The master, chief mate, second mate and three crew members were lost. https://t.co/XCdmPPLscs pic.twitter.com/oG7Ht4sog1

— AMMV (@AMMWWII) May 18, 2022