The December 30, 2009, Crescent City (CA) Daily Triplicate.
On December 5th, the St. George Reef Lighthouse Preservation Society hosted the American Merchant Marine Veterans Association and raised the American Merchant Marine emblem at the SS. Emidio Memorial.
Since 2007, the Society has been working for improvements on the historical marker at the site, hull restoration for the ship and interpretive panels. This is a part of the hull of the merchant ship SS Emidio which was shelled and torpedoed off Cape Mendocino south of Eureka on December 20, 1941, by the Japanese submarine I-17 which hit the ship with five shells.
The crew abandoned the ship, but it remained afloat and drifted into Crescent City harbor before running aground. It lay have submerged for ten years before being sold for salvage, but a section of the bow was saved and turned into a memorial for the five men on board who died.
Always good to see the US Merchant Marine get some recognition for their brave service during World War II. It still amazes me that they are not accorded the same benefits and recognition as the other armed services.
Without their actions, we could not have won the war.
A Salute to the Merchant Marine!! --Cooter
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