[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 71 (Thursday, June 9, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 9, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                 MERCHANT MARINE HEROES OF WORLD WAR II

                                 ______


                            HON. JACK FIELDS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 8, 1994

  Mr. FIELDS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the 
Americans who served in our merchant marine during World War II, and in 
particular, those individuals involved in support of the D-day invasion 
of Normandy.
  Over the last several days, American citizens and people around the 
world have joined in the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the 
D-day invasion of Normandy. We have celebrated the heroism of the men 
and women from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and the former Army Air 
Corps as we relived the exploits of the Allied efforts to establish a 
foothold in Europe from which to launch the effort to put an end to the 
Nazi tyranny that was strangling Europe.
  An integral part of the successful invasion was the continuous supply 
of material and reinforcements, as well as the constant flow of troops 
from England across the Channel. As part of the overall plan for 
Operation Overlord, which was the code word for the planning and 
carrying out of the invasion, the military leaders recognized the need 
for a way to discharge enormous amounts of supplies and equipment over 
the beaches until a functioning port facility was captured by the 
Allied forces.
  To enable the continuous supply of the Allied forces after D-day, a 
plan was conceived to create two artificial harbors called Mulberries. 
One of these harbors would be established in the American sector at 
Omaha Beach and the second one in the British sector at Arromanches. In 
addition to the two artificial harbors, a breakwater was to be 
constructed for Utah Beach. The breakwater would be fashioned by 
placing a series of blockships in a line and then scuttling them in 
order to form a protective barrier behind which Allied vessels could 
discharge their cargo and safely disembark troops into landing craft. 
Approximately 15 blockships were to be placed at Omaha Beach, seven at 
Utah Beach, and an additional 40 to 50 along British held beaches.
  Over 1,000 merchant seamen were needed to prepare the ships and to 
move them into position off the coast of Normandy. Although barely 
operational, each blockship sailed under it own power, manned by 30 to 
40 merchant seamen. While crossing the English Channel and positioning 
the blockships for the scuttling, the ships and their crews came under 
enemy fire from Nazi planes and shore batteries. The first blockship 
was sunk at Omaha Beach on D-day plus 1. After a severe storm disrupted 
the activity for several days, the scuttling proceeded and ultimately 
the harbors and the related breakwaters were put in place.
  The service performed by the merchant seamen was essential to the 
success of the invasion because without the artifical harbors being in 
place it would have been difficult, if not impossible, to ultimately 
land all of the troops, equipment, and supplies that were needed. And 
time was of the essence in order to not jeopardize the invasion itself.

  In addition to the heroic efforts of the seamen to help fashion a 
temporary harbor facility, merchant seamen were involved in many other 
events accompanying the D-day invasion itself. It is worth note that as 
part of the commemorative ceremonies last week, there was one vessel 
involved in the ceremonies that is the only surviving ship still 
operational that was part of the 5,000-ship armada that stormed the 
beaches of Normandy on D-day. This vessel is the SS Jeremiah O'Brien, a 
liberty ship launched on June 19, 1943.
  The O'Brien, which was named after the first United States naval 
officer to engage a British warship during our War for Independence, 
had been involved in the Battle of the Atlantic as part of the convoy 
efforts to supply the Allied forces in the years prior to D-day. Over 
the course of the Battle of Normandy, the Jeremiah O'Brien made 11 
crossings from England to the Normandy beaches carrying troops, 
ammunition, weapons, and other military equipment. In fact, over a 
period of time, merchant marine crews nicknamed the English Channel the 
``Liberty Way'' because so many United States liberty ships were used 
to transport the equipment and supplies to the Allied forces in Europe.
  At the 50th anniversary celebration on Monday, June 6th, President 
Clinton paid tribute to those merchant mariners who were involved in 
the invasion of Normandy. The President boarded the O'Brien which was 
anchored off Portsmouth, England, less than 5 miles from where it was 
exactly 50 years ago ready to participate in Operation Overlord. 
Merchant mariners were finally afforded full recognition of their 
efforts in the invasion.
  The story of the heroism of the American merchant seamen did not 
start with the D-day invasion, however. In September 1940, the United 
States Congress authorized the Government to provide Britain with a 
number of World War I vintage warships. In March 1941, President 
Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Lend-Lease Act that was to provide 
American military support to Britain. Over the next 3 years, the United 
States became increasing involved in supplying the war effort in 
Europe--all of which was transported by merchant ships manned by 
American seafarers.
  During the course of the Battle of the Atlantic, the United States 
merchant marine repeatedly challenged German U-boats and air attacks 
and the treacherous North Atlantic seas to keep open the lifelines from 
America to Great Britain and the Soviet Union. More than 2.500 American 
and other Allied merchant ships were sunk. In the United States over 
2,700 Liberty ships were built during the war, with an average time of 
construction of 58 days per ship. These ships were expected to be lost 
to enemy action and were of a simple, utilitarian design that enabled 
them to be built in an assembly line process. Liberty ships were built 
at a cost of about $2 million each.

  During the course of World War II, approximately 250,000 officers and 
crewmen made up the U.S. merchant marine. Over 6,800 merchant seamen 
were killed by enemy action or war related collisions and fires aboard 
ship. The casualty rate for merchant seamen was exceeded only by that 
of the Marine Corps.
  Thousands of seamen were injured during surface and air attacks 
during the course of the war. Many were forced into lifeboats and 
liferafts and endured the ravages of the elements, shark attacks, and 
strafing by Nazi aircraft while hoping and waiting for rescue.
  An editorial in the New York Times during the war poignantly 
described the role of our merchant mariners: ``Each week they are 
pulled or washed up out of the sea, after incredible hardships, or 
after death amid vast stretches of flaming oil. Quietly, when their 
wounds are healed, their long thirst or hunger satisfied, the survivors 
slip out of port again.''
  The head of the War Shipping Administration, Vice Admiral E. S. Land, 
summarized the role of the United States merchant marine in a report of 
President Truman: ``The United States was a member of a fighting team 
of united nations that won the greatest war in history. There were 
three major players who represented the United States on that team: Our 
fighting forces overseas, the production army here at home, and the 
link between them--the United States merchant marine.''
  General Eisenhower also recognized the contribution of the American 
merchant seamen to the successful D-day invasion. He said: ``Every man 
in this Allied command is quick to express his admiration for the 
loyalty, courage, and fortitude of the officers and men of the merchant 
marine. When final victory is ours, there is no organization that will 
share its credit more deservedly than the merchant marine.''
  In 1987, these forgotten patriots of World War II were recognized for 
their invaluable contribution by Federal Judge Louis Oberdorfer. In his 
decision, the judge stated that those who served in the merchant marine 
during World War II deserved to be granted veterans' status. 
Regrettably, when implementing that decision, our Government 
arbitrarily excluded a small group of worthy Americans. It is my hope 
that this year--the 50th anniversary of Normandy--we will finally grant 
veterans' status to all Americans who served during the World War II 
period which is December 7, 1941 to December 31, 1946.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud, and honored, to salute our American heroes 
who served in the merchant marine during World War II. The sons, and 
daughters, of these heroes continue the proud heritage of their fathers 
today.

                          ____________________