Showing posts with label Memorial Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Memorial Day. Show all posts

November 11, 2009

Veterans Day: Merchant Marine WWII Dean E Raeburn

In Honor of Veteran's Day I would like to re-run this post, originally posted for Memorial Day-


Several years ago I tried to search information regarding the Merchant Marines, there was virtually nothing online. I have recently found a few websites devoted to the service of the Merchant Marines, and there is valuable and appreciated information on the sites, I will provide links at the end of this post. Recognition by the U.S. government to the Merchant Marines of WWII comes finally and for some to late. No Pensions or veteran benefits were ever received by the Merchant Mariners of WWII...a grave site memorial plaque was received without a U.S. flag for my dad.

My father, Dean Raeburn was a Merchant Marine during WWII, his United States Coast Guard card listing him as Fireman,Oiler, Watertender, Ordinary Seaman, his passport lists him as an oiler. He did sail the Great Lakes prior to and after WWII, I am guessing an inherited passion growing up in Sault Saint Marie the son of a Great Lakes Steamship Captain.

I have a lot to learn and research about the Merchant Marines. Some thought they saw “no action”, I heard of someone saying this to my father and his response was to the contrary. I never did hear my father talk about the war or being a Merchant Marine. Their missions over the Atlantic must have been anything but an easy task, with German U-boats after them. One of the ships Dad sailed on was the Thomas U Walter. A log shows them departing from Alexandria Egypt in September of 1943. The Gus 17 convoy list(slow convoy-Gibraltar-U.S.) shows 90 merchants and 13 escorts.

**Ninety merchant ships sailing in convoy and thirteen escorts by the U.S. Navy**

Dad sailed to many ports, Egypt, Algeria, France and England perhaps more I am unaware of. I found only three documents showing three ships through Ancestry.com. Some of his duties as an oiler in the engine crew on the merchant ships were making sure the bearing were always kept regularly oiled. Maintaining and keeping piston rods, valve stems, etc oiled and keeping seawater off. The duty list is is a long and responsible one, with the duties also of fireman watertender....

I wish to learn more and write a more fitting tribute, I will spend much more time on this. I can now write for records which I will, and I can request for ship records if I decide to do so. I wish I had more to write on right now.

I wasn’t going to even post this due to lack of info...but decided to anyway a bit late.

dad is #25 on list
Click on all photos for larger viewing

LINKS~

Song and Video by Celtae A must see!!

Duties of the engine crew
U.S.Merchant Marine
Arnold Hague Convoy Database
The Convoy System at UBoat.net
Ancestry.com Immigration & Emigration

May 2, 2009

Remembering Those Who Served

As we approach Memorial Day, I wonder...who in my direct line has ever served in a war?

As for the Raeburn's, my father was a Merchant Marine during WWII, I do not think his brother served in the war. My grandfather was a Canadian Captain on the Great Lakes during both WWI and WWII and there is no mention of him serving otherwise during the wars, his brother William did serve in WWI. His father William Jr, most of his life a Canadian citizen had no wars to fight in, and by WWI was too old. My 2nd great grandfather William Sr, while living in Ireland may have had a brawl or two, but no wars and by the time he was in Canada c1840's, again no wars to fight.

The Cornell’s; My mother was a Navy nurse during WWII. Her father Leo Cornell served in WWI. As for further down the line I do not know. Leo was adopted by the Cornell's who were from Canada and moved into Michigan in the mid to late 1800's. His birth father William Rust, possibly served in the Civil War...I will need to check this. His birth line is well documented back to New England and it is likely someone served in the early wars...Not checked yet.

The Spencer's’; my husbands line. A very well documented family. Serving the country right on down the line to the Revolutionary War....actually wars before that since they were on American soil by the 1630's.

So, there is always more investigating to do. I will have to pick one at a time and see what I can find! See you Memorial Day.