Book on Merchant Marine in WWII has local ties

George Ryan of Bay Village is the editor of a recently published book, "Braving the Wartime Seas." The book is a tribute to the cadets and graduates of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and Cadet Corps who died during World War II.

The U. S. Merchant Marine during World War II was the fourth arm of national defense that bridged the oceans to provide armament, fuel and logistic supplies to the allied navies and armies. The U.S. Merchant Marine suffered tremendous losses; by percentages more merchant mariners died than those who served in the U.S. Navy or Army. Many of those who died were still students, Cadet-Midshipmen from the Merchant Marine Academy, as well as recent graduates.

As a graduate of the Academy, George and other graduates wanted to honor the short lives of men from the Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point and to recount the history of training these young men to become officers in the U.S. Merchant Marine. The reader will be taken to the distant oceans of the world often in the winter North Atlantic where many ships were sunk and off the East Coast and Gulf Coast of the U.S. where other ships were sunk and merchant mariners died. The beginning of the book tells the story of the basic and advanced training at Kings Point, N.Y.; Pass Christian, Miss.; and San Mateo, Calif.

As our nation remembers the 70th anniversary of D-Day and the Normandy Invasion and the sacrifices of many men in the military services, it is necessary to remember the men and women who delivered the goods to win the war. Their watery graves are a testimony to their service to America. The book is available from publisher Xlibris and major book sellers.