DENNIS A. ROLAND CHAPTER  American Merchant Marine Veterans  P.O. Box 306  Midland Park, New Jersey 07432

The New Jersey Chapter of the American Merchant Marine Veterans is named in memory of Captain Dennis A. Roland (1908-1984).

We meet on the second Saturday of the month at 10:00 am at the Seamen's Church Institute, 118 Export Street Port Newark NJ. Visitors are welcome.

New Edition Available!

"A CARELESS WORD---A NEEDLESS SINKING" by Captain Arthur R. Moore

The Dennis A. Roland Chapter of the American Merchant Marine Veterans has produced a limited number of this 8th printing of this important book. Copies are offered on a first come first served basis.

A documented account under one cover of the catastrophic losses suffered by the American flag Merchant Marine, both in ships and personnel during WWII.

The 716 page book includes Panamanian flag ships in which many American seamen and U.S. Navy Armed Guard served and died without recognition and in addition the story of the awards of the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal. The names of lost seamen are recorded by vessel with a photo in many cases of the ship. Additional illustrations bring the magnitude of this tragedy to light.

O R D E R F O R M -- Eighth Edition

 

Recent Events

On May 1st the DAR Chapter took a trip to the Cape May County Library, Lower Cape Branch. The library manager, Ed Carson, whose family has a Maritime background, has set aside a large room dedicated to the Maritime.

They celebrate Maritime Day the entire month of May. On behalf of the DAR Chapter, Fred MacGregor, our master model maker, donated a 55 inches model of a Liberty ship which will be on display from now on.

The Chapter also donated a copy of Capt. Moore's book, A Careless Word......A Needless Sinking, and 4 video tapes which are available for public viewing. The event was opened by a color guard from the USCG. The Maritime room is open every day the library is open.

It will be a great opportunity for school children to visit. Adults too! The library is located in Villas, NJ at 2600 Bayshore Road.

Letter to the Editor re: Maritime Administration and other proposed cutbacks

Bush Administration budget cutters are planning to dismantle the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD), scuttling as well many other services it provides America's already declining maritime industry, according to the word from Washington.

The budget axe is being wielded by the White House Office of Budget and Management (OBM), which already has developed it's objectives despite the deterimental effects we believe it will have to the nation's economic and national security.

In addition to dissolving MARAD in it's present form, the OMB plans to freeze title XI funding for ship construction in the United States, close the Merchant Marine Academy at King's Point, Long Island, and reduce other programs that would further marginalize what remains of the U.S. flag Merchant Marine.

Throughout our history, marine transportation has been important to the nation's economic growth and development. And, in times of war, it has provided essential seaborne support in delivering military supplies and troops to combat areas around the world. Recall the valuable part played by the American merchant marine in contributing to the Allies cause in winning World War II.

The Bush administration plans to dismantle MADAD by shifting many of its responsibilites to other federal agencies, we are told. In the process, we strongly feel it deals a fatal blow to the U.S. flag shipping industry.

According to the Annual Seapower 2001 report, there are only 265 U.S. flag commercial ships in the United States as of July 1, including 118 in domestic trade and 34 other ships engaged in exclusively government work. Of this figure says the report, only 47 of these ships receive government assistance under the Maritime Security Program.

MARAD is an arm of the Department of Transportation that administers programs to aid in the developement, promotion and operation of the U.S. merchant marine. Among it's activities, it is responsible for approving mortgage guarantee applications under the Merchant Marine Act of 1936 as amended, monitors capital construction funds, maintains statistics for the merchant marine and manages Kings Point Academy.

The Maritime Administration has served our seafaring national well over the past 65 years. I would urge President Bush and Congress to reconsider any move to dismantle MARAD.
Sincerely,
George E. Goldman
President, Dennis A. Roland Chapter
American Merchant Marine Veterans

Merchant Marine emblem
We have our Merchant Marine emblem on another monument, thanks to Fred Macgregor, Dennis A. Roland Chapter Board member. Fred had previously gotten us on the town of Belvidere's WW II memorial. When they decided to build a monument honoring Purple Heart Recipients Fred saw that we were also on that one. We are gaining ground in being recognized.

Chapter Officers

The Chapter was founded in April 1989, named after Dennis A. Roland whose ship, SS Sawokla, was sunk by a German surface raider. Three months later the German ship transferred the Sawokla survivors to the Japanese.

While a Japanese prisoner of war, Dennis wore home made dog tags and the Chapter's logo is based on them. He wore them while he and his fellow POWs were forced to work on the infamous death railway and equally infamous bridge over the River Kwai, Thailand. The Japanese translates into "America the Beautiful."

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Date created 11/12/99 Last modified 011/17/11