![]() It is humbling to see how service affected these individuals.” Louis, we are honored to observe the change in a face over time-in-service via these photographs. ![]() It is not uncommon to find multiple pictures in these files. “These records not only tell the complicated stories of merchant mariners, some of whom served in peacetime and were transitioned to very different wartime service, but they also, almost consistently, show the faces of the young men and women in service. ![]() That is not the case with the Merchant Marine Licensing Files,” Fitzgerald said. ![]() “Though looking into the past, it is usually rare that we can also look into the faces from the past. She explained that the files provide a unique glimpse into our nation’s maritime history and offer a visual record of the toll that wartime service took on these merchant mariners. These files have joined our collection in an effort to better serve the public who are looking for proof of their ancestor's service–civilian or military,” Fitzgerald said. “Along with this new series have come some new experiences. During wartime, however, they can become an auxiliary to the United States Navy-called upon to deliver military personnel and materiel for the military. Merchant mariners or merchant seamen are assigned to vessels that primarily transport cargo and passengers during peacetime. Due to the multifaceted nature of the Merchant Marine, we are very grateful to obtain this collection in order to provide clarity to their service," said Theresa Fitzgerald, Chief of Archival Operations in St. However, service was considered military in nature for those who served between December 7, 1941, and December 31, 1946. "Service in the Merchant Marine was considered civilian service under several different civilian personnel agencies. The collection opened to the public on December 2, 2019. The public can access these records in two ways: through a request made via an offsite reference request (with reproduction provided for a fee), or via onsite viewing at the National Archives at St.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |