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Peter G. Trama recently received the Merchant Mariners of WWII Congressional Gold Medal. Courtesy photo.
World War II and Korean War veteran Peter G. Trama of Thompson, formerly of Putnam, recently received the Merchant Mariners of WWII Congressional Gold Medal. The award was presented by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration in Washington, DC.
According to the Maritime Administration, “The Congressional Gold Medal, which is the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. Congress, honors those whose dedication, heroism, and public service have created a lasting impact on American history. On March 14, 2020, legislation was signed into law authorizing the Congressional Gold Medal for American Merchant Mariners whose honorable deeds played a critical role in WWII.”
Trama served as a Seaman in the Merchant Marines from 1943 to 1950. He made seven trips across the Pacific Ocean to Australia, New Guinea, Marshall Islands and Hawaii, providing fuel oil, airplanes and PT boats for U.S. Navy ships.
In 1950, after leaving the Merchant Marines, Trama was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he served in Germany, during the Korean war. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1951.
“I was very surprised but very honored to receive this Gold Medal,” said Trama, who celebrated his 97th birthday on Sept. 6. “This was a nice birthday present.”
According to the Maritime Administration, “The Merchant Mariners of WWII Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2020 authorizes MARAD to award duplicates of the medal to individuals who between December 7, 1941 and December 31, 1946, were members of the U.S. Merchant Marine, or other related services.”
During World War II, Standard Oil of New Jersey had more than 125 oil tankers scattered around the globe with Merchant Marines supplying the war effort.
Trama is a longtime member of the Mayotte-Viens American Legion Post #13 of Putnam and the Albert J. Breault VFW Post #1523.
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