HR563 : CONGRESS IS TRYING TO DO JUSTICE FOR THE SURVIVING 4,500 MERCHANT MARINE VETS OF WWII

230,000 U.S. MERCHANT MARINERS SERVED THE WAR EFFORT IN WWII. 

Thousands died supporting our forces, hundreds became POWs only in recent years have any received any recognition or veteran like benefits. As we write this there are only about 4.500 WWII Merchant Marine Vets left alive and their numbers shrink daily. House resolution 563 styled "HONORING OUR WWII VETERAN MERCHANT MARINERS ACT of 2015 " will finally memorialize their sacrifice, and provide some additional veteran like benefits to some of the surviving members. We urge our members, followers, and visitors to contact their Congressmen and support HR563. 

TEXT OF THE BILL:  https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/114/hr563/text

TRACKING PROGRESS OF THE BILL: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/563/all-info

 We were alerted to this bill by a comment sent in by a visitor to a post on the Merchant Marine in WWII. As near as we can tell, as of this writing (April 19, 2015) the bill had been introduced back in January and still languishes in committee. We urge our visitors to track this bill and advocate for its passage. The bill provides a one time payment to eligible surviving vets, (fewer of them every day) that represent the approximate value of some of the GI bill, payment while in enemy captivity (unlike military members their pay stopped) , and VA type benefits that they never received. Over 230,000 WWII Merchant Mariners served under naval control of shipping, dodged bullets and torpedos and delivered the war supplies to the war Zones. About a decade ago they were finally recognized by the Congress and offered honorable discharges from the Navy, Coast guard, or Army Transportation Corps depending on which agency they worked for. This opened the door to some VA burial and other benefits. Now as the last of them are dying out the Congress finally proposes a final payment to the tiny surviving remnant representing the GI benefits they never received.  Many are long since dead from their wounds, and the many more of old age and natural causes. 4,500 were left alive when this was written and dying out by the dozens daily. This will be a very inexpensive tardy thank you from the nation. We urge passage and think that languishing in committee since January is unacceptable. If you agree tell your Congressional delegation.

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