Show I j I America In Action Actio i UNITED SEAMEN'S SERVICE Very shortly after Pearl Harbor the USO was organized for the benefit bene bene- fit of our fighting forces but until t I September 1942 no similar service existed for the men of our merchant merchant merchant mer mer- i chant marine who are in every J sense of the word part of our first line of defense J 3 No one ore realized this lack as keenly as the maritime unions and when finally in September 1942 the United United United Unit Unit- ed Seamen's Service was ini ini- I it had behind it the enthusiastic enthusiastic enthusiastic operation co-operation of the maritime unions the public the VISA the ship builders the ship owners and the President From the outset with headquarters headquarters head head- headquarters quarters at 39 Broadway New York N. N Y has concerned itself partially or totally with the medical resi- resi dei recreational and personal needs of our merchant seamen at home and abroad In addition to to this the services of U. U S S. S public health clinics most of which are in port cities have been made available available available avail avail- able to the men of the merchant marine marine marine ma ma- rine and arrangements were made with the army navy and Red Cross medical services for the care treatment treatment treatment treat treat- ment and examination of seamen abro abroad d. d Here at home five rest homes have been established in beautiful country sites In the U. U S. S and abroad a chain of hotels and clubs have been opened for seamen At the hotels the men may secure a cheerful well-furnished well room and bath at extremely extremely ex ex- low rates The clubs are furnished with cards games reading read read- reading ing and writing facilities Groups of volunteer women workers help in arranging entertainment Finally with the operation co-operation of the state department and the army and navy and have repatriated repatriated repatriated re re- re- re U. U S. S merchant seamen seamen sea sea- men who reached foreign ports after after after aft aft- er loss of their sh ships ps and the services it is rendering render render- ing has kept the morale of the men of our merchant marine in excellent condition Their numbers will be greatly expanded this year and next to keep pace with our growing ever-growing mercantile fleet The new men will enter secure in the knowledge that is doing and nd will continue to do everything possible to assure their security and comfort Released by Western Newspaper Union |