Original Item: Only One Available. The United Seamen's Service, sometimes abbreviated as the USS, is a non-profit, federally chartered organization founded in 1942 to promote the welfare of American seafarers and their dependents, seafarers of all nations, US government military and civilian personnel, and other persons engaged in the maritime industry. While the main charter of the USS is to serve merchant marine personnel, a large part of their clientele over the years has come from the United States Navy, Merchant Marines and other international military personnel.

This 14” x 20” poster is of the promotional type, making the viewer aware of the United Seaman’s Service as well as portraying the need for recruits. The poster features a sailor in a crows nest on a ship looking out to the horizon. Behind him in red is a map of the world, indicating that their reach is not only for the Continental US.

The texted on the main body is:

POWER
for Victory!

Merchant Seaman
          man the lifelines!

At the bottom is a blue shield with the USS logo and the following message:

UNITED SEAMAN’S SERVICE
in cooperation with the WAR SHIPPING ADMINISTRATION
SERVES WAR-BATTERED MERCHANT
SEAMAN ON THE SIX CONTINENTS
USS shares in the NATIONAL WAR FUND

The condition is excellent with minor wear to the edges and corners, it does however appear to have been rolled up for storage at one point, as there are “waves” that can be seen.

This is a lovely example that comes ready to display!

Merchant shipping was vitally important to Allied operations during WWII. Military battle plans were dependent upon enormous quantities of war supplies, provisions, and equipment from vessels called Liberty Ships. The Merchant Marines aggressively recruited volunteer mariners to man these ships. Because there was no emphasis on age or physical standards, they often enlisted retired seamen and men who were too young, too old, or physically unfit for the other services. A greater percentage of Merchant Marines died from war-related deaths than any other other services.