Maritime Tales of the Sea

About the Book

“Maritime Tales of the Sea” is a collection of stories by Merchant Marine and Armed Guard from all over the world.

These were young men during World War II, who volunteered their services to man the ships and deliver troops, supplies such as food, equipment, ammunition, and petroleum products to over 97% of the war fronts around the world.

The Merchant Mariners were every bit in harm’s way during the invasions of North Africa, Italy, Sicily, France, Normandy, Philippines, and numerous other islands in the Pacific warfronts. Supplies and Men had to be delivered and the job was ours!!!

These stories are only a sampling of what sailors who manned the ships were subject to. Over 8,000 men lost their lives in combat due to torpedoes and bombs from enemy submarines and aircraft; and over 600 men were in prisoner of war camps. Many men lost limbs or was permanently injured for life.

After the war, Mariners were charged with returning the troops and supplies, which were taken overseas, back to the United States; as well as returning displaced persons worldwide back to their home countries. Additionally, the Merchant Marine carried humanitarian supplies to devastated and starving countries all over the world -- together they kept the free world's shipping lanes open after the fall of Europe.

It is hoped that this book will give the public, and descendants of the men who served, a true understanding of what these men accomplished during the War.

About the Author

Al D’Agostino grew up in Rochester, New York, and lives in Arlington, Texas. Willard Byrd was raised in Waynesboro and Dinwiddie County, Virginia and lives in Burleson, Texas; they live less than 20 miles apart.

Al and Willard followed a unique pattern in Service to our country; during WWII they both trained at Sheepshead Bay-Brooklyn, both served in the Merchant Marine, and in 1946 both served as crew on the same ship, the SS MARINE MARLIN.

As members of the AMMV SS Stephen Hopkins Chapter, they became acquainted and realized that they both served on the same ship at the same time without knowing each other. Al was in the Stewards Department and Willard was in the Deck Department.

The SS MARINE MARLIN had embarked on a highly secretive trip for the US State Department stopping at eleven ports in South America and Europe repatriating Nazi’s who had infiltrated to South America escaping capture during the war and returned them for some to face trial at Nuremberg, Germany. The SS MARINE MARLIN carried a passenger load of over 5000 with over 200 hostile German’s in cell block below decks.

After WWII, Al and Willard both served in the Army. During the Korean War, Al served with the Signal Corps. in Korea. Willard was in the US Army Occupation Forces in Japan and the Air Force during the Korean War.

Al is the current Skipper of the SS Stephen Hopkins Chapter AMMV and Willard is his First Mate.