S.S. Lane Victory Merchant Marine Museum and Memorial

It is the 75th Anniversary of WWII and an honor to tell you about a Merchant Mariner who served from 1943 to 1947. This is a story from his daughter, delivered to me this week. ~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~ Loyd R.Hamel, born on a farm in rural western Minnesota on January 11,1922, He received his grade school education in a country school. prior to entering the Merchant Marines, He worked as a farmhand, filling station attendant, railroad mech...anic, defense plant worker, and meatpacker. He volunteered for the Merchant Marines in St.Paul, Minnesota, and he took his training at the base in Sheepshead Bay,New York in 1943. He took his first trip as an O.S.in'43 on a tanker. Later that year he shipped out as an A.B.on the Hat Creek, the Elmer A.Sperry, the William Prouse,and the John B Kendrick. Later he was assigned to the Victory. After his discharge in 1947,he settled in Long Beach, California, working for 76 Union Oil on various field machinery assignments until he retired on disability in 1984. He read of USMMWWII's search for members in the local newspaper and joined immediately. He helped on various projects during Lane Victory’s restoration, such as chipping, painting, food dispensing, mailing, etc. He was married for 68 years to his lovely and supporting wife Flora who also volunteered for years on the Lane Victory on multiple projects. They lived their entire married life in Long Beach, California, where they raised 4 children. Loyd went on to earn his GED and AA at the local college. They both felt fortunate to be part of the USMMVWW II and the very Historic Lane Victory. They were so proud to be witnesses to the reconditioning of the Lane Victory to ocean readiness and enjoyed their cruise on it! Loyd died on July 8, 2020 and was preceded in death by Flora's passing in 2014. See more

There were tense moments on the Bay as the fireboat St. Francis fought to save the historic WWII ship, the SS Jeremiah O'Brien from ruin. She was docked just feet from the fire. https://abc7news.com/san-francisco-fire-fishermans-wharf//

SSLV Status Update - https://mailchi.mp/d5b3c63dd954/sslv-status-update

Did you know you could purchase LV Gift Shop items online? Well if you didn't check it out on our website. While you are checking it out be sure to subscribe to our email list (located near the bottom of our website home page)!

Fatastic simulation of COVID-19 and how infections are minimized with quarantine. The video simulations wer intresting. Click to read (and see) the hypothesys - looks kind of like a video game. https://www.washingtonpost.com//20/world/corona-simulator/

USNS MERCY arrives this morning. "We are, as the USNS Mercy's motto says, steaming to assist," said Rear Adm. Tim Weber, commander of Naval Medical Forces Pacific, shortly before the ship embarked. "In a matter of days we have assembled an incredible crew of more than 800 medical professionals who embark on the Mercy to lift the burden off local hospitals so they can focus on caring for patients with COVID-19." But the hospital ship won't be admitting patients infected with t...he coronavirus. *We are NOT deploying to treat COVID-19 cases," said the ship's commanding officer, Capt. John Rotruck, at a briefing with reporters. He added that all those coming on board will first have to fill out coronavirus screening questionnaires and, if needed, have their temperatures taken. "If we did wind up with somebody that we either diagnosed as COVID-19 or thought was highly likely," Rotruck said, "we would be looking to send them off the ship and do appropriate preventative measures for any contact they had."

Veterans have multiple resources for COVID-19 information Here's one that gives some information. STAY HOME - STAY SAFE https://www.blogs.va.gov//veterans-multiple-resources-cov/

The ‘Safer at Home’ order is about increasing social distancing & limiting the spread of COVID-19 not about taking people to jail. Read the order https://...www.lamayor.org//Safer%20at%20Home%20Order%202020. Frequently Asked Questions https://corona-virus.la/faq Press conference https://www.facebook.com/MayorOfLA/videos/1529086940601508/?vh=e&d=n

Make your voice heard in support of museums to your legislators! It takes 2 minutes to contact your legislators: https://www.congressweb.com/AAM/67