During WW2 142 USMMA Mids were killed while serving on merchant ships that were running much needed supplies to our troops in the European Theater. These ships were often in huge "convoys" running accross the pond so that at least a few of them made it through the screen of German U-Boat attacks. Here is one example of the heroism shown by a member of the 142:
Edwin Joseph O'Hara
Engine Cadet-Midshipman on SS Stephen Hopkins 09/27/42
For extraordinary heroism under unusual hazards.
Two enemy surface raiders suddenly appeared out of the morning mist to attack the small merchantman upon which he was serving. Heavy guns of one raider pounded his ship, and machine guns from the other, sprayed her decks for one-half hour at close quarters. The heroic gun crew of O'Hara's ship exchanged shot for shot with the enemy, placing thirty-five shells into the waterline of one of the raiders until its crew was forced to abandon their sinking ship. The gun commander was mortally wounded early in the action, and all of the gun crew were killed or wounded when an enemy shell exploded the magazine of their gun.
At the explosion, O'Hara ran aft and single-handedly served and fired the damaged gun with five live shells remaining in the ready box, scoring direct hits near the waterline of the second raider. O'Hara was mortally wounded in this action. With boilers blown up, engines destroyed, masts shot away, and ablaze from stem to stern, the gallant merchantman finally went under carrying O'Hara and several of his fighting shipmates with her.
The magnificent courage of this young cadet constitutes a degree of heroism which will be an enduring inspiration to seamen of the United States Merchant Marine everywhere.
For the President
Admiral Emory Scott Land
