Walter Broll- WWII Merchant Marine
Walter Broll- WWII Merchant Marine
Walter Broll joined the U.S. Maritime Service in 1942 when he was 17 years old after being turned down by the Air Force. Walter is a survivor of the Bari, Italy Raid during World War II. It’s been called the “Second Pearl Harbor” but has been almost forgotten in the years since. At least 30 ship were in Bari’s harbor unloading their cargo of fuel and supplies when the Germans sprang a surprise air attack on Dec. 2, 1943. What was not known at the time and until days after the attack, one American ship was carrying a secret cargo of Mustard gas. There were more than 1,000 military and merchant marine casualties.
Walter and other Merchant Marines who served in World War II, were granted veteran status in 1988, forty-three years after the war ended.
On March 13 2020 , President Trump signed the WWII Merchant Marine Congressional Medal Act into law.
For more information on the AMMV (American Merchant Marine Veterans) https://ammv.us/
This video was produced by the Rowlinson Media Group and the American Merchant Marine Veterans https://ammv.us
