House OKs money for WWII mariners
Merchant mariners who survived German U-boats and lived for six more decades may finally get a financial reward from legislation approved by the House on Tuesday.
The measure passed by voice vote would provide a monthly benefit of $1,000 to those who served in the U.S. Merchant Marine between Dec. 7, 1941, and Dec. 31, 1946. Of the 250,000 merchant mariners during World War II, fewer than 10,000 are believed to still be alive.
The merchant mariners carried some 95 percent of the tanks, supplies and troops across the Atlantic and Pacific during World War II. Between 1941 and 1944, enemy forces sank more than 800 of their ships. Some 9,500 merchant mariners were killed or died of wounds, a greater casualty rate than any of the military services, including the Marines.
But the mariners were excluded when Congress in 1944 passed the GI Bill of Rights that gave service members education and housing benefits, VA health care and small-business loans. President Roosevelt, in signing the act, said he hoped Congress would soon extend similar benefits to merchant mariners.
Read entire article at The Washington Times
The measure passed by voice vote would provide a monthly benefit of $1,000 to those who served in the U.S. Merchant Marine between Dec. 7, 1941, and Dec. 31, 1946. Of the 250,000 merchant mariners during World War II, fewer than 10,000 are believed to still be alive.
The merchant mariners carried some 95 percent of the tanks, supplies and troops across the Atlantic and Pacific during World War II. Between 1941 and 1944, enemy forces sank more than 800 of their ships. Some 9,500 merchant mariners were killed or died of wounds, a greater casualty rate than any of the military services, including the Marines.
But the mariners were excluded when Congress in 1944 passed the GI Bill of Rights that gave service members education and housing benefits, VA health care and small-business loans. President Roosevelt, in signing the act, said he hoped Congress would soon extend similar benefits to merchant mariners.