Lost at sea. This is the haunting image that inspired the United States Merchant Marine War Memorial. It stands here in Battery Park. The memorial honors the brave American merchant mariners. They served in wars from the Revolutionary War to the present day.
The United States Merchant Marine War Memorial is dedicated to merchant mariners. They risked their lives to secure America’s liberty and prosperity. Thousands remain unrecognized for their sacrifices at sea.
Sculptor Marisol Escobar created the memorial. She was inspired by a photo from World War II. The photo showed survivors of a submarine attack. Their merchant ship was destroyed. The men were left to face the perils of the sea. Sadly the survivors later perished.
The Merchant Marine played a vital role in World War II. They shipped troops and supplies across dangerous seas. Many merchant vessels were armed. They returned fire when attacked. The Merchant Marine suffered the highest casualty rate of any service branch in World War II. Over 9000 American Merchant Mariners were killed.
The photo that inspired the United States Merchant Marine War Memorial has a harrowing story. It involves the German submarine U-123. U-123 was commanded by Reinhard Hardegen. Hardegen was tasked to attack Allied shipping in American coastal waters. The United States was unprepared. Easy targets abounded for the German U-boats.
One of U-123’s victims was the American tanker SS Muskogee. The submarine sank the tanker in March 1942. Seven men huddled on a raft. Hardegen questioned them. Then he left them adrift. A German war correspondent photographed the survivors. None of the 34 crewmembers of the Muskogee were ever seen again.
George Betts was the son of the ship’s master. He researched the sinking of the Muskogee. Betts corresponded with Hardegen. Hardegen gave Betts some of the photos.
George Duffy was a merchant seaman. He found a copy of the photo in a German newspaper. He kept the clipping through three years in labor camps. Duffy realized it was the Muskogee photo after 30 years. Escobar eventually saw Duffy’s well-worn copy. It inspired her sculpture.
The United States Merchant Marine War Memorial was dedicated on October 8, 1991. It serves as a tribute. It honors the courage and sacrifice of these often-forgotten heroes. Their service helped ensure America’s freedom. The memorial reminds us of their vital contribution. They faced danger and hardship to support the war effort.