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I was told my birth father is from the Seattle WA area. He was adopted and is of American Indian descent. I know his name but am not publishing it here as he is less than 100 years old.
In 1967 he was in the Merchant Marine, and a letter I found said something like he couldn't wait to see my mom when his ship comes into Frisco. I think he was a little older than my mom and she was born in 1950. How can I search the merchant marine records; and what other avenues should I explore?
It appears that you can obtain Merchant Marine records from the Coast Guard (see Mariner Record Requests and Request Information). Though it sounds like you may not have enough information to be able to complete the request.
Their website says:
Merchant Mariners, or their next-of-kin, may obtain copies of their
records, but the National Maritime Center (NMC) may not disclose an
individual’s personal record without:
- Written and/or notarized consent of the mariner,
- Power of Attorney, or
- by providing a certified copy of a Death Certificate.
and
You must include the required information in writing in order for us to process your request:
- Nature of the request,
- Requester and mariner’s full name,
- Reference or social security number,
- Mariner’s date of birth,
- Contact information address and phone number.
Without knowing what you're trying to do, I can't suggest any other avenues to explore.
