mvmhm Posted February 12, 2018 Share #1 Posted February 12, 2018 A few weeks ago we met a gent whose father served in the Merchant Marines in WWII; he and his wife dropped in this morning to bring what they had...mostly paperwork, but it give a great view into the life of a Merchant Mariner. We're also getting his burial flag (which they forgot to bring) in a couple weeks. This mariner served in the Atlantic, Med, and Pacific. First is a 8X12 (when unfolded) leather wallet that contains his certificates, shot records etc.....also shown is his original ribbon bar. Mark sends Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvmhm Posted February 12, 2018 Author Share #2 Posted February 12, 2018 Better view of one of the certificates.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvmhm Posted February 12, 2018 Author Share #3 Posted February 12, 2018 ..this is neat...a registration for him to enter Australia..also shown is one of his rating certificates... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvmhm Posted February 12, 2018 Author Share #4 Posted February 12, 2018 These are two of his ship discharges...there's one for each vessel he served on.... Mark sends Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvmhm Posted February 12, 2018 Author Share #5 Posted February 12, 2018 ...and of course shot records.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvmhm Posted February 12, 2018 Author Share #6 Posted February 12, 2018 ...a USCG Certificate of Service... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvmhm Posted February 12, 2018 Author Share #7 Posted February 12, 2018 Loooong overdue recognition as a Veteran came in 1988... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvmhm Posted February 12, 2018 Author Share #8 Posted February 12, 2018 The coveted DD214 (which I redacted)... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvmhm Posted February 12, 2018 Author Share #9 Posted February 12, 2018 ...and certificates of service.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvmhm Posted February 12, 2018 Author Share #10 Posted February 12, 2018 This is the one odd ball in the group, and the family has no idea where it came from...a 1950's German-made silvered metal US Army band musician hat emblem.... Mark sends Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wharfmaster Posted February 12, 2018 Share #11 Posted February 12, 2018 Nice group ! Wharf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
44-63963 Posted February 12, 2018 Share #12 Posted February 12, 2018 hello, really like your group, have not seen any items from this area of collecting for along a time, a great group and a plus to any collection, thanks for sharing it with the forum Gerard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvmhm Posted February 13, 2018 Author Share #13 Posted February 13, 2018 I noticed some lettering on the cover of the wallet...very heavily worn, but was able to do some cornputer fiddleing and bring out the lettering...it says Seaman Identification issued by United States Dept of Commerce Washington DC...there's a ship in the middle of the design. Mark sends Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ekclete Posted February 16, 2018 Share #14 Posted February 16, 2018 I have several groupings like this to merchant seamen.and yours is very nice grouping. It would be tough to upgrade a grouping like this one. Nice addtion to your collection. Thanks for sharing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P-40Warhawk Posted February 16, 2018 Share #15 Posted February 16, 2018 Nice that he received veterans status. A family member of mine died before that happened, and I'm not sure how to proceed to establish proof of his service and find out what ribbons he was entitled to. Seeing this post gives me hope that it can be done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vietvet7071 Posted February 17, 2018 Share #16 Posted February 17, 2018 This grouping is a fantastic historical record of this Seaman's service in the Merchant Marine. Outstanding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvmhm Posted February 24, 2018 Author Share #17 Posted February 24, 2018 The son brought in his interment flag to go with everything else... Mark sends Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvmhm Posted February 24, 2018 Author Share #18 Posted February 24, 2018 Nice that he received veterans status. A family member of mine died before that happened, and I'm not sure how to proceed to establish proof of his service and find out what ribbons he was entitled to. Seeing this post gives me hope that it can be done. Go on-line and download an SF-180. Complete it as best you can, and send it to the address listed for US Coast Guard (addresses are listed on the last page of the form). It appears that the USCG is the designated office for the Merchant Marines. Mark sends Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P-40Warhawk Posted February 24, 2018 Share #19 Posted February 24, 2018 Go on-line and download an SF-180. Complete it as best you can, and send it to the address listed for US Coast Guard (addresses are listed on the last page of the form). It appears that the USCG is the designated office for the Merchant Marines. Mark sends Thank you for the tip! I meant to say in my last post that is a nice grouping you have. They don't get much recognition for their vital part in the war. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SemperParatus Posted August 8, 2018 Share #20 Posted August 8, 2018 A very nice grouping to a merchant seaman. having collected material to the Merchant Marine I have often found groupings like this to be time capsules of the war at sea. Often you can piece together several years of service. find ships that were sunk and by cross referencing dates find out if the recipient was aboard at the time. The addition of the more recent DD-214 is again useful for ships served in and for awards given. I would hasten to add that I have seen more than a fair number of these DD-214s which do not list the award of the Merchant Marine Victory Medal where in most cases the recipient would have been eligible for that medal. I have not as yet been able to find out why this is the case so my thinking is that the Victory Medal did not come along until after the war and as such was not recorded in the record. Again a very nice group including original ribbons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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