On May 12th, Associated Press reported that the US Merchant Marine of World War II may finally be getting their just-financial thank you, even if it is way too late. Of the 250,000 who served bringing supplies and troops overseas, only around 10,000 are still alive.
The US House of Representatives passed a bill (H.B. 23) providing these veterans who survived German and Japanese attack, with $1000 a month.
However, Representative Steve Buyer of Indiana brings up a good point. There are 28 other groups, including the Flying Tigers and Women's Air Force Service Pilots, that were passed over. And they are deserving as well.
These men carried 95% of the tanks, supplies, and troops overseas at great personal risk, especially from German U-Boats. Then, there were those men in freighters carrying oil and ammunition, one of the worst places to be when hit by torpedo.
During the war, more than 800 US merchant ships were sunk and 9,500 sailors died, a higher casualty rate than any other branch of service.
They were excluded form the 1944 GI Bill of Rights and have, for the most part, been overlooked. In 1988, three Merchant Marine sailors sued successfully for Veteran status.
About TIME!!! --Cooter
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