John V. Cockshott
Dix Hills, N.Y.

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Merchant Marine

I wish to congratulate World War II Magazine for its article “Merchant Marine at War” in the May 2000 issue. There are, however, some mistakes that need to be corrected. It is a myth that the members of the Merchant Marine were civilians. The Merchant Marine Act of 1936 specifically stated that the U.S. Merchant Marine (USMM) was a “naval auxiliary.”

Another point involves the U.S. Maritime Service (USMS). The USMS was the official training organization for the USMM. It was also formed under the Merchant Marine Act and trained men from 1938 until 1954. Its successor still operates at the USMM Academy and several state maritime academies.

At age 17, I went to enlist in the U.S. Navy. The recruiter stated the Navy was not taking any more recruits, and told me to go join the USMM. I have met many, many others who were told the same thing.

The superintendent of the USMS training station at Sheepshead Bay, N.Y., was Captain John Beebe, U.S. Navy. The officers and men who taught us gunnery were U.S. Navy personnel. We marched, drilled and did everything else that was done at naval training stations. We were ordered to salute officers of all services and came under the authority of the military police while on leave. After completing training, a contingent of us, under orders and in uniform, were sent to Florida, where we boarded a U.S. Navy cargo plane and were sent to a USMS Graduate Station in Panama for assignment.

Did we consider ourselves civilians? Absolutely not, then or now! We who served in the USMS and USMM, as well as the Army and Navy transport services, are extremely grateful for your article. President Franklin D. Roosevelt stated, “As time goes on, there will be greater public understanding of our merchant fleets’ record during this war.” Your article is a great beginning.

Daniel Horodysky
Berkeley, Calif.

Velikiye Luki

The September 2000 issue of World War II was one of the best issues I have read. I particularly liked “Surrounded in the Snow,” by William A. Webb. I looked Velikiye Luki up in my volume of John Erickson’s Road to Berlin, and he devotes only about half a sentence to this engagement. I never before knew what happened there, and I was intrigued by the desperate struggle described by Webb.

I also really enjoyed the “Personality” article on Harold Russell, which brought tears to my eyes. I have seen The Best Years of Our Lives about three times, but I never knew the story behind Mr. Russell. All the articles were particularly good in this issue. Keep up the good work.

Paul J. DuPont
via e-mail

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