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Most countries have a merchant marine, which is a fleet of ships that serves as a commercial entity during peacetime and provides military assistance during war. Rather than directly engaging in combat, these large cargo ships carry personnel and equipment. In the United States, the Merchant Marine distinguished itself during World War II, and lost over 10,000 mariners in combat. The Merchant Marine History category in the Yahoo! Directory includes this exhaustive site that traces the history of the fleet from the
Revolutionary War to Vietnam. Despite their significant wartime contributions, members of the Merchant Marine were not granted full veteran benefits until 1988. Out of all the military services that served in World War II, the Merchant Marine suffered the highest rate of casualties. The U.S. Merchant Marine is made of privately owned ships that operate under the aegis of the Maritime Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation. If you're interested in applying for a job (to see the world, sow your oats, etc.), we suggest you visit the Merchant
Marine Employment category.
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