Obtaining Merchant Marine Records
The Merchant Marines, also known as the Merchant Navy, are a civilian maritime fleet that plays a crucial role both in peacetime and wartime. Vital during conflicts such as WWII and Vietnam, they serve as a key support system for naval operations. These civilian mariners step into crucial logistics and transportation roles, bridging the gap between civilian and military duties. Under international law, they are recognized as military personnel during conflicts, undertaking indispensable roles critical to the success of military missions. I began researching records because my father-in-law, Joseph Mucia, had been a Merchant Marine for decades. He enlisted in March 1945, just months before WWII ended and shortly before his 18th birthday, with his service extending into the early Vietnam War era; his father had to give consent due to his age. My goal was to uncover more about his tenure as a mariner. The initial challenge was locating where these records are stored. Although my search
