Documentary: In Peace and War - The Merchant Mariners of World War II

Nearly 250,000 civilian Merchant Mariners served as part of the U.S. military and delivered supplies and armed forces personnel by ship to foreign countries during World War II. Between 1939 and 1945, 9,521 merchant mariners lost their lives — a higher proportion than those killed than in any military branch. Four decades later in 1988 the U.S. Merchant Mariners of WWII finally achieved Veteran status. In 2020, Congress passed the Merchant Mariners of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act to recognize the Merchant Mariners for their courage and contributions during the war.
USA Warrior Stories has interviewed numerous WWII Merchant Mariners already for this project including Pete Kurkimilis, George T. Worsham, Ed “Big John” Laughton and James Sciple.
At age of 15 Pete Kurkimilis lied about his age and joined the U.S. Merchant Marine at the beginning of WWII. Pete's first ship the El Almirante delivered supplies to the Russian Army in Murmansk Russia. Pete also served aboard a troop transport at Omaha Beach during the D-Day invasion. Pete recalled that “because it was a troopship, we had a hospital on the ship, and we took all the badly wounded into the hospital and the ones that were wounded but not critically we took to Portsmouth, England. Then we loaded fresh troops, then back to Utah Beach.”
The day after James Sciple graduated from Fort Myers High School, he joined the Merchant Mariners. James chose to join the U.S. Merchant Marine because the aquatic aspect of the position appealed to him. “We left Hawaii, 5 ships in a convoy. The next morning all 5 ships had been scattered, two of them were never seen again. Later I was transferred to LSTs making landings and taking troops on the New Guinea coast.” In 2022 James was one of ten veterans who attended when the Congressional Gold Medal was awarded to the U.S. Merchant Mariners of World War II.
Ed “Big John” Laughton, now 101 years old, was serving as 2nd Officer on the S/S Hobbs Victory when it was attacked by kamikaze aircraft and sunk on April 6, 1945, off Okinawa. He ended up in a lifeboat saving several of his shipmates. Unfortunately, 11 of his crew lost their lives. "Our ship's crew, the gunnery crew, shot down one of the kamikazes earlier…and then the plane came in and hit us at our ship's radio room. I got into the only engine lifeboat we had left. A lot of our sailors had been blown over the ship and landed in the ocean. We made big circles out there, picked up some of them. And then I made a big circle, came back to pick up the skipper.”
George T. Worsham was born in May 1924 in Kentucky, as the eldest son of sharecroppers. He joined the U.S. Maritime Service in 1943 at the age of 18. George’s first Ship, the S/S Theodore Dwight Weld, was torpedoed by U-Boat 238 on September 20, 1943. He was one of only 37 survivors. “All hell broke loose; a torpedo had hit us in the engine room. A big wave was headed in my direction. With my lifejacket secured I grabbed onto the rail and held on for dear life. The water rushed over me and stayed there submerging me for what felt like hours.” On Memorial Day 2023 George was one of 6 WWII Merchant Mariners who participate at Arlington National Cemetery Wreath Laying ceremony and was recognized during the 2023 PBS Capital Concert event.
Along with these personal stories USA Warrior Stories was in Washington DC in 2022 when 9 Merchant Mariners of World War II were honored by receiving The Congressional Gold Medal representing the less than 15,000 remaining Merchant Mariners of World War II, over 250,000 Merchant Mariners served during WWII. Sen. Mitch McConnel and Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi presented the Congressional Gold Medal to all Merchant Mariners who served in World War II. “Just as your service and courage brought luster to our nation may this medal serve as an expression of America’s profound respect and gratitude to you. And may its place in the American Merchant Marine Museum remind future generations of your legendary heroism.” - Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi. The Congressional Gold Medal is currently displayed at the American Merchant Marine Museum in Kings Point, New York.
Using already produced and owned interviews, historical narration, public domain footage, private footage and historical footage and photos USA Warrior Stories will tell the story of the WWII Merchant Mariners who supplied the war effort while putting themselves in danger and many times giving their lives in support of the United States and its allies during WWII. There sacrifices were not even recognized until Jan 20th, 1988 when the United States Defense Department agreed to extend veterans’ status to “the men who sailed merchant ships in World War II”. At that time “according to Navy historians, about 250,000 men served in the Merchant Marine in World War II. No one knows how many are still alive” – NY Times 1/21/88
On March 14, 2020, President Trump signed legislation authorizing the Congressional Gold Medal for American Merchant Mariners whose honorable deeds were critical to U.S. and Allied objectives and ultimate success in World War II. The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. Congress. The legislation passed the House and Senate without objection. This legislation has led to a new curiosity and appreciation for the Merchant Mariners of WWII leading to them being honored on our nation’s highest stage the National Memorial Day Concert on the U.S. Capitol grounds.