CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL AWARDED TO WORLD WAR TWO MERCHANT MARINE

OCTOBER 1, 2022

“They have delivered the goods when and where needed in every theater of operations across every ocean in the biggest, the most difficult, and dangerous transportation job ever undertaken. As time goes on there will be greater public understanding of our merchant fleet’s record during this war.”

– President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Statement on the U.S. Merchant Marine,

September 19, 1944

OTTAWA, TODAY – Mr. Stéphane Ouellette, President and Chief Executive Officer, Merchant Navy Commemorative Theme Project (MNCTP), congratulated the American Merchant Marine Veterans in receiving the Congressional Gold Medal awarded for their sacrifices and contributions as the mainstay of the Allied Forces victory during World War Two.

On Saturday, October 1, 2022, The National WWII Museum (located in New Orleans, LA, USA), in partnership with the American Merchant Marine Veterans, held a ceremony to commemorate the recent awarding of the Congressional Gold Medal to WWII Merchant Mariners. To view yesterday’s commemoration, please select: WWII Merchant Marine Congressional Gold Medal Commemoration

During the Second World War, more than 250,000 Merchant Marine sailed the treacherous oceans of the world. Over 6,835 American Merchant Marine were killed and over 11,000 wounded. In addition, 604 Merchant Mariners were taken prisoners of war, resulting in 61 casualties within POW camps.