Komarno man joined merchant navy at age 16, by Teresa Carey. This article appeared in the Nov. 11, 2010 issue of the Interlake Spectator…
Komarno’s Steve Maksymyk lays claim to being the Interlake’s sole marine. The 86-year-old joined the merchant Navy at age 16, after a Winnipeg priest gave him this advice: “If you want to see the world, join the marines.”
Maksymyk, a robust teen, recalls lying about his age in order to join the Navy.
“At the time they didn’t ask many questions. They had trouble finding marines. They had to take one or two guys out of jail and put them on our ship,” Maksymyk smiled.
After training in Fort William and Duluth, Maksymyk began a career as a stoker on the cargo ships that would take him on weeks-long journeys to exotic destinations. Embarking from Vancouver, he travelled to Venezuela on oil tankers, delivering to Portland, Maine, before heading back to Vancouver. “I was there for two years on that line,” he said.
Later trips would take Maksymyk and his crew on a new circuit, from Vancouver to Australia with loads of wheat and lumber, or the cargo ship might carry landing barges, jeeps , ammunition, and soldiers, which, upon delivery, would be replaced by a load of sugar that would be moved on to New Zealand. Once there, mail destined for San Francisco would be picked up, and the circle eventually being completed after a dozen weeks, or so.
“During the war we were always in danger. The Japanese were in the area at that time,” Maksymyk recalls, “On the way to Australia we had torpedo nets on both sides, each 40 feet off.” The nets would set off any incoming torpedoes, thereby protecting the ship from hits.
“I was in New Zealand when we got word that the war had stopped,” Maksymyk recounted. “We had a big party. I sent a telegram home—It was Mother’s Day. They sent a guy on a bike to deliver it to my mother, but she couldn’t read. She thought I’d been killed, and fainted.”
Maksymyk remained with the merchant Navy for two more years before returning, in 1947, to his roots in Malonton. Once home, he felt saddled by isolation. “I couldn’t talk to anybody about the war—especially in Malonton. They were all draft dodgers here,” he said.
1990, the year the Canadian government finally recognized the merchant Navy, was a turning point for Maksymyk, and every other merchant marine who served during World War II. This recognition meant supports from Veterans Affairs, a pension, and being allowed into the Legion where he could at last find comradeship. But this recognition has meant even more: It has given veterans like Maksymyk a sense of esteem for doing a job that required commitment and courage, a knowing that their contributions were valued by our country, and that they are respected today.
Maksymyk now proudly displays his medals, “for services performed in the merchant Navy during the war of 1939-45.” Each year, since 1990, Maksymyk has travelled to Winnipeg to take part in Remembrance Day ceremonies.
Komarno’s Steve Maksymyk lays claim to being the Interlake’s sole marine. The 86-year-old joined the merchant Navy at age 16, after a Winnipeg priest gave him this advice: “If you want to see the world, join the marines.”
Maksymyk, a robust teen, recalls lying about his age in order to join the Navy.
“At the time they didn’t ask many questions. They had trouble finding marines. They had to take one or two guys out of jail and put them on our ship,” Maksymyk smiled.
After training in Fort William and Duluth, Maksymyk began a career as a stoker on the cargo ships that would take him on weeks-long journeys to exotic destinations. Embarking from Vancouver, he travelled to Venezuela on oil tankers, delivering to Portland, Maine, before heading back to Vancouver. “I was there for two years on that line,” he said.
Later trips would take Maksymyk and his crew on a new circuit, from Vancouver to Australia with loads of wheat and lumber, or the cargo ship might carry landing barges, jeeps , ammunition, and soldiers, which, upon delivery, would be replaced by a load of sugar that would be moved on to New Zealand. Once there, mail destined for San Francisco would be picked up, and the circle eventually being completed after a dozen weeks, or so.
“During the war we were always in danger. The Japanese were in the area at that time,” Maksymyk recalls, “On the way to Australia we had torpedo nets on both sides, each 40 feet off.” The nets would set off any incoming torpedoes, thereby protecting the ship from hits.
“I was in New Zealand when we got word that the war had stopped,” Maksymyk recounted. “We had a big party. I sent a telegram home—It was Mother’s Day. They sent a guy on a bike to deliver it to my mother, but she couldn’t read. She thought I’d been killed, and fainted.”
Maksymyk remained with the merchant Navy for two more years before returning, in 1947, to his roots in Malonton. Once home, he felt saddled by isolation. “I couldn’t talk to anybody about the war—especially in Malonton. They were all draft dodgers here,” he said.
1990, the year the Canadian government finally recognized the merchant Navy, was a turning point for Maksymyk, and every other merchant marine who served during World War II. This recognition meant supports from Veterans Affairs, a pension, and being allowed into the Legion where he could at last find comradeship. But this recognition has meant even more: It has given veterans like Maksymyk a sense of esteem for doing a job that required commitment and courage, a knowing that their contributions were valued by our country, and that they are respected today.
Maksymyk now proudly displays his medals, “for services performed in the merchant Navy during the war of 1939-45.” Each year, since 1990, Maksymyk has travelled to Winnipeg to take part in Remembrance Day ceremonies.
