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Bob Filner (CA-51)

JUSTICE AND EQUITY FOR MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES MERCHANT MARINE

I invite you to support a bill of utmost importance, H.R. 23, the “Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2004”.

World War II Merchant Mariners suffered the highest casualty rate of any of the branches of service while they delivered troops, tanks, food, airplanes, fuel and other needed supplies to every theater of the war.  Compared to the large number of men and women serving in World War II, the numbers of the Merchant Mariners were small, but their chance of dying during service was extremely high.  Enemy forces sank over 800 ships between 1941 and 1944 alone.

Unfortunately, this group of brave men was denied their rights under the G.I. Bill of Rights that Congress enacted in 1945.  All those who served in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force or Coast Guard were recipients of benefits under the G.I. Bill.  The United States Merchant Marine was not included.

The Merchant Marine became the forgotten service.  For four decades, no effort was made to recognize the contribution made by this branch of the Armed Services.  In 1988, they were finally granted a “watered down” G.I. Bill of Rights, but some portions of the G.I. Bill have never been made available to veterans of the Merchant Marine. 

While it is impossible to make up for over 40 years of unpaid benefits, I propose a bill that will acknowledge the service of the veterans of the Merchant Marine and offer compensation for years and years of lost benefits.  H.R. 23, the “Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2004”, would pay each eligible veteran a monthly benefit of $1000, and that payment would also go to their surviving spouses. 

The average age of Merchant Marine veterans is 81.  Many have outlived their savings.  A monthly benefit, to compensate for the loss of nearly a lifetime of ineligibility for the G.I. Bill, would be of comfort and would provide some measure of security for veterans of the Merchant Marines.  We can never make up for years lost, but we can fix the injustice by passing H.R. 23 as quickly as possible.