from Paul Lamp, Kansas City
This website brought to you in part by the following sponsor:
Find out how to advertise here - Email us! [email protected]
Find out how to advertise here - Email us! [email protected]
Dear Editor:
May 22 is National Maritime day. What better time for us to remember our U.S. Merchant Marine Veterans of WWII.
The Merchant Marine has served the United States honorably in all wars. During WWII about a quarter million volunteers manned Liberty Cargo Ships, tankers and troop ships to deliver the goods, and they did. More than 85% of all material used during WWII was delivered by the Merchant Marine. There were 15,000,000 pairs of boots delivered to Russia.
The Merchant Marine delivered locomotives, ammunition, bombs, food, gasoline, airplanes, troops, soda, beer and cigarettes to name a few things. But not without a price. Approximately 800 ships were sunk and almost 9,000 mariners were killed, 11,000 inured and over 600 taken prisoner (about 60 survived POW camps.) They were bombed, torpedoed, shot, drowned, incinerated, frozen and died in prison camps. Many ships were targets of Kamikazes.
They were present at every invasion, including D-Day, but seldom mentioned. Their casualty rate was as high as any branch of the military. The war could not have been won without the Merchant Marine. In 1944, FDR signed the GI Bill for the military and they deserved it. On signing, FDR remarked that Congress should do the same for Mariners. FDR died shortly thereafter and the Merchant Marine became the forgotten service. Congress did nothing. No GI Bill?— In 1988, 43 years later, and much too late for education or home loan benefits, Congress gave veterans status to Mariners. Why did they wait 43 years? It has been said the GI Bill was worth thousands of dollars, it paid for itself by generating higher incomes and more income tax.
Congress should do the right thing and pass Bill #HR 3729, titled “A Belated Thank You To Merchant Marine Veterans of WWII.” This bill would somehow help to make up for being forgotten for almost 60 years. Our average age is 81. We are asking help from you, the general public, to call/write your senators and congressmen asking them to co-sponsor this bill. Call 1-877-762-8762 Govt. Switchboard and ask for your member of congress. For more information about the Merchant Marine in WWII, go to our website at www.usmm.org
Paul Lamp, Kansas City