Stop the grave robbers
Editorial, Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle, Saturday, August 3, 2002
Since World War II, American merchant seamen who went down with cargo ships under enemy fire have slept undisturbed and largely unsung in their maritime tombs. But advanced technology and greed have abruptly brought that peace to an end for the crews of 165 ships sunk along the Atlantic coast before May 1, 1942.
New breathing techniques used by today's divers allow them to go deeper, making the sunken ships accessible to salvagers. Some of these divers already have carried off bells and portholes from ships along the Georgia and Florida coasts. One ship's propeller was even removed with the help of explosives.
Unless Congress acts to protect these undersea graves, some divers will continue to raid them for souvenirs and artifacts, much like the despicable grave robbers who plundered the tombs of Egyptian Pharaohs and, closer to home, many historic grave sites of American Indians.
Using these ships as their personal playgrounds, these artifact thieves not only are desecrating the sailors' graves, they are stealing a part of America's historical heritage, piece by piece.
Sunken U.S. Navy ships from World War II have federal protection and so do the Merchant Marine ships that sailed after May 1942 as part of the federal War Ship Administration fleet.
Unfortunately, the 165 ships sunk before that date were never federal property, but their activities were important to this nation's war effort. The brave Merchant Marines and Navy guards killed while serving their country on these ships deserve no less honor than the sailors who lay at the bottom of Pearl Harbor.
Certainly they don't deserve to have their graves picked clean.
President George W. Bush and Congress should find a way -- perhaps through executive order or legislation -- to make sure these brave sailors will no longer be disturbed in their watery graves.
Wall Street Journal article about divers
08/17/02