Paul Edward Hartlieb United States Merchant Marines WWII

	SERVICE DETAILS
	NAME	Paul Edward Hartlieb
	CITY	Delphos (St. Johns High School)
	CASUALTY	March 7, 1942
	WAR	WWII
	SERVICE	U.S. Merchant Marines
	SPECIALTY	Second Engineer
	RANK	Merchant Seaman
	UNIT	Merchant Ship Steel Age
	DETAILS	Missing in action or lost at sea
The Merchant Marine is a civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Navy, but not a uniformed service, except in times of war when, in accordance with the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, mariners are considered military personnel. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill into law granting veteran status to merchant mariners who served in war. Prior to such legislation, they did not receive veteran's benefits. Talking about the Merchant Marines at the end of World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt said: "[Mariners] have written one of its most brilliant chapters. They have delivered the goods when and where needed in every theater of operations and across every ocean in the biggest, the most difficult and dangerous job ever undertaken. As time goes on, there will be greater public understanding of our merchant's fleet record during this war.		We are seeking more information about this and all other veterans on our list and adding names as we find them. If you know more about this veteran please contact us,
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/merchant-marine-were-unsung-heroes-world-war-ii-180959253/

Steel Age

Photo from City of Vancouver Archives, CVA 447-2714

Name	Steel Age
Type:	Steam merchant
Tonnage	6,188 tons
Completed	1920 - Federal Shipbuilding Co, Kearny NJ
Owner	Isthmian SS Co, New York
Homeport	New York
Date of attack	7 Mar 1942	Nationality: American

Fate	Sunk by U-129 (Asmus Nicolai Clausen)
Position	6° 45'N, 53° 15'W - Grid EO 6625
Complement	35 (34 dead and 1 survivor).
Convoy
Route	Calcutta (18 Jan) - Table Bay - Trinidad - New Orleans
Cargo	Manganese ore
History	Completed in February 1920
Notes on event	At 03.20 hours on 7 March 1942 the unescorted and unarmed Steel Age (Master Ralph Jones) was hit on the starboard side by two G7a torpedoes from U-129 about 130 miles northeast of Paramaribo, Dutch Guiana. The first torpedo hit amidships and the second between the #4 and #5 hatches, causing the ship to sink by the bow within two minutes. Eight officers and 25 crew members were lost. The sole survivor, an able seaman, jumped on a nearby life raft and was picked up by the U-boat after 20 minutes. He was landed at Lorient on 5 April and taken to the POW camp Marlag und Milag Nord near Bremen.