Pete Kurkimilis - USMM

At age of 15 Pete Kurkimilis lied about his age and joined the U.S. Merchant Marine at the beginning of WWII. Pete's first ship the EL ALMIRANTE deliverd supplies to the Russian Army in Murmansk Russia. Pete was also served aboard a troop transport at Omaha Beach during the D-Day invasion.

During the Korean War Pete joined the USMC and after the war went back to the Merchant Marine and served during the Vietnam war.

Peter worked his way up to Master’s Lic. and sailed as Master in the US Merchant Marine until he retired.

To learn more about the Merchant Marine Service visit our page www.https://usawarriorstories.org/watch/merchant-mariners

Pete was part of a group of WWII Merchant Marine Veterans who attended the 2023 Veterans Day ceremonies in Washington D.C and at Arlington National Cemetery.

For more information on the AMMV (American Merchant Marine Veterans) https://ammv.us/