The Merchant Marines lost a larger percentage of troops than all of the service branches. Their main job was to ferry troops - supplies - and equipment across the Atlantic from the USA to England - France - and other overrun countries.
You may recall that it was just a couple years ago when I discovered the war record of my grandfather Roy Everhart here in Washington. His name can be found at the World War II Memorial along with his date and location of death. He was on a supply ship off the coast of the Dominican Republic - returning from a trip to Europe. It happened 2 July 42. They took a torpedo to his engine room - he worked there.
