George T. Worsham - USMM WWII

George T. Worsham was born in May 1924 in Kentucky, as the eldest son of sharecroppers. He joined the U.S. Maritime Service in 1943 at the age of 18. He attended the Officers Training School St Petersburg, FL. Mr. Worsham’s first Ship, the S/S Theodore Dwight Weld, was torpedoed by U-Boat 238 on September 20, 1943, while in Convoy ON-202. He was one of only 37 survivors out of a crew of 70. After a month’s leave he returned to the Merchant Marine and served another 33 years. During WWII he sailed as an Able Seaman and Third Officer. After the war, he sailed as Master Mariner for multiple shipping companies.

This partial interview and veterans family narrated video was produced by invitation from AMMV - (American Merchant Marine Veterans) to attend Memorial Day Weekend 2023 in Washington D.C. and capture the historic event of WWII Merchant Marine Veterans being recognized and honored for the very first time by their attending and participating at Arlington National Cemetery Wreath Laying ceremony and their also being showcased and recognized during the 2023 PBS Capital Concert event.

A total of 6 WWII Merchant Mariners ranging from 96 -103 years of age were attending these ceremonies. This video is from one of these WWII Merchant Mariners, Captain George T. Worsham and includes narrated reading from a single chapter from Capt. Worsham’s book "Quite A Humdinger” narrated by his daughter Vicky Worsham. It tells the story of the German U-boat torpedoing and sinking of her fathers Liberty Ship "Theodore Dwight Weld” on a trans Atlantic convoy designated sign (ON - 202) during one of his voyages during WWII .

To learn more about the Merchant Marine Service visit our page www.https://usawarriorstories.org/watch/merchant-mariners

For more information on the AMMV (American Merchant Marine Veterans) visit https://ammv.us/