The good news is, Fran Kent’s pension check is safe, even though you did not hear from me as soon as he anticipated. And as Fran says, your message and question is not only allowed but welcomed and encouraged.
The bad news, or at least the not-as-good news, is that I have been unable to find any information about Joseph R. DeWolfe, despite repeated searches. But that fact is really only to say that the sources available to me are not comprehensive. Somewhere I am sure the information you seek is available.
I suggest that you pursue another source of information to find details about your grandfather’s merchant marine career, by contacting the U.S. Coast Guard. See this web page from the website I manage: http://armed-guard.com/searchmil.html. In particular see section A.2. Records of Individuals – Merchant Marine. You will have to contact the U.S. Coast Guard’s National Maritime Center in Martinsburg, West Virginia. The Coast Guard was and is responsible for issuing certain documents ("seaman's papers") and officers’ licenses to U.S. merchant mariners, so they should have information about your grandfather. You will need to provide as much identifying information as possible about your grandfather.
As a passing comment, the position of second assistant engineer in the merchant marine is an officer position in the engine room. In order to attain that position your grandfather would have had to have had a substantial amount of training and sea time. That means he more than likely served in more than one ship over a period of years, and in fact probably sailed aboard many ships over many years. So if your information is correct about his position, the Coast Guard probably has a lot of information about him.
Note that you are not next of kin to your grandfather (next of kin = parent, spouse, child, sibling). As such you personally may not be able to obtain his complete service record. It would be best if someone else in your family who is next of kin could make the request for his service record, for example your father or mother or an aunt or uncle, i.e., a child of your grandfather. You could do the leg work of preparing the request, researching information, etc., but it would be better if someone who is next of kin to your grandfather could actually sign any necessary document(s). If there is no next of kin, make the request yourself and hope for the best. There may be a fee for this service but I expect the Coast Guard would not begin work without informing you of any charges.
Good luck.
Ron Carlson, Webmaster
Armed Guard / Merchant Marine website
www.armed-guard.com
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