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Lew in the Merchant Marine
(1949)
This is the online photo album of Lew's time in the United States Merchant Marine from December 1948 until May 1949. The photos shown here are the original photographs that Lew took on the SS Atlantic Transporter, and offer a rare picture of life on an oil tanker as well as its travel past Europe and into the Middle East during that time period.
Lew also saved some original menus from the ship - the pictures of those menus are shown here. They may be some of, if not the only, menus to survive from that ship from this time.
Lew on the SS Atlantic Transporter
This photograph of Lew leaning against the railing of the oil tanker, the SS Atlantic Transporter, is a superior candid photograph of his time while working in the US Merchant Marine.
Note his beard and mustache. Lew rarely had a beard/mustache, so this is a rare image of him.
Note his beard and mustache. Lew rarely had a beard/mustache, so this is a rare image of him.
Crew of the SS Atlantic Transporter
This picture of six men are some of the crew of the SS Atlantic Transporter for its trip from Philadelphia to the Middle East (December 1948 - February 1949).
Notice Lew in the third row on the right.
Notice Lew in the third row on the right.
Lew with the Life Saver
This is a picture taken of Lew on the SS Atlantic Transporter, smiling through a life saver.
Note that this ship was formerlly known as the "SS Atlantic Trader," but some of the items and documents noted the ship as the "SS Atlantic Transporter" instead.
Note that this ship was formerlly known as the "SS Atlantic Trader," but some of the items and documents noted the ship as the "SS Atlantic Transporter" instead.
Lew on the Deck
This is a wonderful photograph of Lew standing on the deck of the SS Atlantic Transporter.
While this photograph was not taken by a professional photographer, it still has the appearance that it was, as the photograph has so much balance.
While this photograph was not taken by a professional photographer, it still has the appearance that it was, as the photograph has so much balance.
SS Atlantic Transporter - Breakfast Menu
This is the breakfast menu of the SS Atlantic Transporter from December 26, 1948.
This menu was sent by Lew to Sweetie to demonstrate how good the food was on the ship. It is not clear if another copy of this document survives.
This menu was sent by Lew to Sweetie to demonstrate how good the food was on the ship. It is not clear if another copy of this document survives.
SS Atlantic Transporter - Supper Menu
This is the supper menu of the SS Atlantic Transporter from December 26, 1948.
This menu was sent by Lew to Sweetie to demonstrate how good the food was on the ship. It is not clear if another copy of this document survives.
This menu was sent by Lew to Sweetie to demonstrate how good the food was on the ship. It is not clear if another copy of this document survives.
SS Atlantic Transporter - Dinner Menu
This is the dinner menu of the SS Atlantic Transporter from December 26, 1948.
This menu was sent by Lew to Sweetie to demonstrate how good the food was on the ship. It is not clear if another copy of this document survives.
This menu was sent by Lew to Sweetie to demonstrate how good the food was on the ship. It is not clear if another copy of this document survives.
Map of the Route of the SS Atlantic Transporter
This map demonstrates the route and major stops of the SS Atlantic Transporter that occurred from the end of December 1948 through late February 1949.
The ship crossed the Atlantic Ocean, passed through the Strait of Gibraltar, and then continued past the island of Pantelleria (Italy) to Port Said (Egypt). From Port Said, it continued through the Suez Canal, into the Red Sea, through the Gulf of Aden and the Gulf of Oman, past Abadan, Iran, and reached its final destination in this region which was Fahaheel, Kuwait.
When the tanker was filled, the ship reversed course and went back to Philadelphia by the same route it had taken to get to Kuwait.
The ship crossed the Atlantic Ocean, passed through the Strait of Gibraltar, and then continued past the island of Pantelleria (Italy) to Port Said (Egypt). From Port Said, it continued through the Suez Canal, into the Red Sea, through the Gulf of Aden and the Gulf of Oman, past Abadan, Iran, and reached its final destination in this region which was Fahaheel, Kuwait.
When the tanker was filled, the ship reversed course and went back to Philadelphia by the same route it had taken to get to Kuwait.
Pantelleria (Italy)
Lew took this photo as the SS Atlantic Transporter passed by the island of Pantelleria in the Mediterranean Sea.
Egypt in the Background
Lew posed for this photo on the deck of the SS Atlantic Transporter in mid-January 1949. He labelled the photograph as "Egypt in the Background," which is the only information that can be used to determine that the blurry land mass in the back of the photograph past the water is Egypt.
Entering Port Said (Egypt)
Lew took this photograph as the SS Atlantic Transporter entered Port Said.
The port can be seen in the background of the photograph.
The port can be seen in the background of the photograph.
Port Said (Egypt)
Lew took this photograph when the ship got closer to the Port. Some of the docks, etc. can be seen in the photograph.
Pill Boxes at Port Said (Egypt)
This image is of a pill box in the water at Port Said.
Pill boxes were defensive structures that Lew notes were in use during the war (World War II).
Pill boxes were defensive structures that Lew notes were in use during the war (World War II).
Tradesmen Eating Chow
Lew notes on the back of this photograph that the local traders that have come on board the ship are eating chow with the sailors of the Merchant Marine.
This candid photograph captures this moment.
This candid photograph captures this moment.
Suez Canal (Egypt)
Lew took this photograph and later indicated that it is what he saw at the Suez Canal.
City of Suez (Egypt)
Lew took this photo closer to the end of the day. This is what he could see from on board the SS Atlantic Transporter as it passed by the City of Suez in Egypt.
Lew and the Suez Canal
This is a photograph of Lew standing on the deck of the SS Atlantic Transporter with the Suez Canal in the background.
Lew and the Egyptian Trader
This is a photograph of Lew standing on board the SS Atlantic Transporter, determining if he is going to purchase some beads from an Egyptian tradesman.
Captain Keenan Going Through the Suez Canal
Lew took this photograph as the Captain of the SS Atlantic Transporter, Captain Keenan was walking towards him.
He notes that the Suez Canal is in the background of the photograph.
He notes that the Suez Canal is in the background of the photograph.
The Oil Pipeline in Kuwait
Lew indicated that this photograph is of the oil pipeline in the water at Kuwait.
The indicator of its presence is the buoy in the water, marking the spot for the oil tankers.
The indicator of its presence is the buoy in the water, marking the spot for the oil tankers.
Tradesmen in Kuwait
This spectacular candid photograph was taken by Lew of tradesmen on board the SS Atlantic Transporter from Kuwait. Other sailors in the Merchant Marine can be seen in the background.
The SS Atlantic Transporter was specifically filling up its tank with oil at Fahaheel, Kuwait.
The SS Atlantic Transporter was specifically filling up its tank with oil at Fahaheel, Kuwait.
The Unfinished Dock at Kuwait
This photograph was taken by Lew, capturing the image of the American flag waving in the breeze while in the background is (as he notes it) the "Unfinished Dock" at Kuwait.
From his letters, we know that the ship went to Fahaheel, Kuwait, and the oil pipeline the ship used was in the water, identified by a buoy to mark its spot. Lew notes the population in Kuwait at the time there as 55,000.
From his letters, we know that the ship went to Fahaheel, Kuwait, and the oil pipeline the ship used was in the water, identified by a buoy to mark its spot. Lew notes the population in Kuwait at the time there as 55,000.
Map of the Stops of the SS Atlantic Transporter (March-May 1949)
This map demonstrates the major stops of the SS Atlantic Transporter that occurred from March 1949 through May 1949.
The ship stopped several times on various trips in Port Aransas, Texas and Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela, and at times also returned to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The ship stopped several times on various trips in Port Aransas, Texas and Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela, and at times also returned to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Oil Tanker in Port Aransas, Texas
This is a photo from the front of a postcard that Lew sent to Jeanne in 1949, showing her what a typical oil tanker looked like at the time.
While it is not believed that this was the SS Atlantic Transporter (on which Lew was working), it is thought that the SS Atlantic Transporter was similar.
While it is not believed that this was the SS Atlantic Transporter (on which Lew was working), it is thought that the SS Atlantic Transporter was similar.
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