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S. 961, The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2007 (19 comments ↓)
S. 961 would amend title 46, United States Code, to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the United States merchant marine (including the Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport Service) during World War II.
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Visitor Comments
James Black
These brave veterans deserve all that this bill offers and more, for the sacrifices they made in support of the war effort. Most all official records for these veterans have been destroyed making it virtually impossible for them to receive olther VA compensation. Given the average age of these veterans the impact that the funding that this bill would have is extremely limited. The american people owe these surviving members of the WWII Merchant Marines a BIG Thank You for the many lives that were saved by their actions and efforts to end WWII.
Paul Charles
If congress wait long enough, it will be a mote issue. My father is 90 and with the issues put forth from other branches opposing this bill, this is just another brush off.
Daughter of Mariner
Thanks for your comments, James. I, too, think these brave men are entitled to receive this benefit from a grateful country. Anyone who knows the history of their efforts and sacrifices during WWII should agree.
William DeLancy
THIS BILL PASSED THE HOUSE AND HAS A MAJORITY OF COSPONSORS IN THE SENATE HOWEVER THIS BILL WAS SENT TO THE COMMITTEE ON VETERAN AFFAIRS WHO CAN JUST IGNORE IT AND NEVER BRING IT UP FOR A VOTE. Who has the power this committee or congress ? If this committee fails to act shame on them. Paul Charles has it right if this committee waits long enough we will all be dead.
JOHN WOODWARD
VK3VFAS A 16 YEAR OLD IN 1943,DUE TO THE LOSS OF ONE EYE AT AGE 13 ,I WAS NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR SERVIC IN THE MILITARY. I WAS PHYSICALLY ATTRACTIVE TO THE MERCHANT MARINE TO SAIL ON CARGO SHIPS IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC AND THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA.
william d hobbs jr
the merchant marines delivered most of all the amo,fuel,armor,that sailors, armies. marines needed to win ww11,we all will pass before they get anything to those who served.
thomas m hobbs sr
my brother served in the merchant marines on a t2 tanker,the delivered the good sowe could win,I served 4 years in the south pacificinthe army air corps,give this thank you to them
DON PAULSEN
I WAS A HIGH-SCHOOL DROPOUT IN 1944 AND ENLISTED IN THE MERCHANT MARINE SHORTLY AFTER MY 17TH BIRTHDAY. I WAS SENT TO THE RADIO OFFICERS SCHOOL IN BOSTON HARBOR FOR 5 MONTHS. AFTER GRADUATION, I WAS ASSIGNED THE SECOND RADIO OFFICERS POSITION ON A AMMUNITION SHIP THE SS CALVIN VICTORY AT STILL 17, THE YOUNGEST CREWMEMBER. TWICE WE HAD TORPEDOES AIMED AT US AND THE SECOND TIME AT OKINAWA THE TORPEDO JUST MISSED US AND DAMAGED THE USS MARATHON. AT 80, I AM ONE OF THE YOUNGEST MERCHANT MARINE VETERANS AND HOPE THAT THE SENATE WILL ACT BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE FOR ALL OF US.
John Hankins
There is a unconscienable misunderstanding of the life of Merhant Seaman that needs to end. I quit high school in 44 to join the MM, at age 16. Made 17 at Saipan, 18 at Okinawa, and traveled through dangerous times and waters of the Pacific where we joined thousands of other merchant vessels in war zones. To young to die as a soldier, but not as a merchant seamn whose meager benefits end if sunk or captured. Fortunately, I joined the army upon return from the China, India, etc, 1n March 1946, Went on to commission status and retired, but not so for many of my aged and/or F4 rated friends. VFW, wake up. Learn who we are and how prayed every night.
Dolores Gonzalez
My husband was joined the Merchant Marine in 1940. He was barely 19 yrs. old. He served during the entire war and beyond until he retired. Mr. Paul Charles is so right! This bill will never pass. My darling husband passed away in March never to see the recognition he and his fellow Merchant Seamen Veterans deserve and never will get.
Robert E. Jones
Active Maritime Service Dec. 1944.Gallops Island Radio Plt. R111. ATC Troop Ship SS Cape Henlopen. Army personnel got benefits. Navy Gun Crew got benefits. I got the SHAFT.
Art Gould
My dad, a MM vet from 1942-45 was eagerly looking forward to this benefit. There was some headway, but it stopped. My dad passed away in October.
It would be nice if someone finally did something.
Veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to: "The
United States of America," for an amount of: "up to and including their life."
Tracey Berry
I don't believe anyone will be left living to see any compensation by the time this issue is finalized, then at that time, all the politicians involved can make a big to-do about their great deeds and efforts, pat themselves on the back at another job well done on behalf of our veterans.
Laura Ooghe
I how I wish the dept of Veterans Affairs would wake up!! My dear father-in-law Ernest Ooghe served on the SS Jeremiah O'Brien, he's now 84. I, up until several years ago, didn't realize how are own government gave these brave men THE SHAFT!
This ammendment MUST PASS!
and soon.
Gerald (Gerry) Goldstein
Being a ham radio operator and communicating world wide via Morse code, our University radio club was contacted by the Navy. Why? They desperatly needed trained radio operators and it took took long to train novices. So at 17 I left college and joined. Two weeks later aboard the S/S Cape Horn I saw 2 ships torpedoed. Yes, we are the forgotten heroes.
Cliff Richardson
I joined the MM in 1944 and dropped out of high school to do so. I graduated but because I was 18, I had to join the service. Little did I know at the time that we would not be considered veterans. Trained at Sheepshead Bay next to the Coast Gaurd, sent out to sea and after August of 1945 I returned to find that I was not considered a veteran and was still subject to the draft. I was then forced to join the U.S. Army, trained AGAIN at Ft. Bragge and was sent to South Korea where I served for another 2 years. The amendment to the bill denies any benefit to those of us who served twice. Even though we were compelled to do so.
In 1989 I finally got my discharge from the M M 44 years later !! Now we are being penalized again because we served our country twice. Ask our U.S. Congressmen to delay their pensions for 44 years and see how they respond?
AILEEN PANCHERI
MY HUSBAND IS 81 AND SERVED IN MM.
wE LIVE ON A SMALL INCOME AND COULD USE A BOOST!!!CONGRESS FINDS
MANY OTHER PLACES TO THROW OUR TAX DOLLARS AWAY. PASS THIS NOW BEFORE THESE MEN ARE ALL GONE.WE AS AMERICANS GIVE AID TO PEOPLE ALL OVER TH WORLD-HOW ABOUT OUR OWN!!!
miguel valdes
my grandfather is 86 years old. he was born in cuba and asked to serve,he did so without hesitation. how much longer will he have to wait on the dept. of vets. affairs?
Brad Meyer
My father served in the Pacific on Liberty and Victory ships during WWII and I am shocked that the Senate is ignoring this incredible service to all WWII vetrans that the Merchants provided during the war. They were put in harms way by the US government and many died along side with the US military vetrans. It's time that the Senate act on S.961 to provide a much belated benefit to a quickly shrinking population of true WWII veterans who, to date, have not received any benefits for their sacrifices.