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REP. STEVE BUYER HOLDS UP MERCHANT MARINE

COMPENSATION BILL -- House Vets'

Committee Chair blocks MM legislation.

 

  

 

Story here... http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=
17143516&BRD=2081&PAG=461&dept_id=385210&rfi=6

Story below:

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Merchant Marine bill held up in U.S. Congress

By Clayton Stairs
cstairs@gtowntimes.com

 

Summary: Merchant Marine veterans of World War II are asking the public to call their U.S. Congress members to make sure they have signed a petition to allow Congress to vote on a bill which will give $1,000 to surviving Merchant Mariners who served in World War II.

Quote: “If not for the Merchant Marine operating ships and carrying troops, ammunition, guns, supplies, gasoline, oil and everything they needed overseas in World War II, we could all be speaking German or Japanese today,” Hazel Lewis said.

In times of war, the U.S. Merchant Marine — a fleet of ships carrying imports and exports during peacetime — acts as the Naval auxiliary to carry soldiers and cargo to the battlefield. They are considered civilians, but are asked to put their lives on the line just as soldiers are in war.

After World War II, those serving in the Merchant Marine were not considered veterans and were never given any compensation for their role in the victory against the Germans and Japanese.

Now, there is a bill, called H.R. 23 (or S. 1272), being held up in the U.S. House of Representatives that would award $1,000 per month to Merchant Marine veterans. Called “Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II,” this would be the only compensation they have ever received — other than their regular pay for time served.

However, although H.R. 23 has been co-sponsored by 263 of the 435 members of Congress, the bill has been blocked by Congressman Steve Buyer, chair of the House Committee on Veteran’s Affairs. To get the bill out of committee and back on the House floor, Congressman Bob Filner, who introduced the bill on Jan. 4, 2005 in the House, is asking members of Congress to sign Discharge Petition Number 14 to allow a vote on the bill and to cosponsor H.R. 23. They need 218 members to sign the petition.

People interested in making a difference in the lives of the surviving Merchant Marine veterans of World War II can call their U.S. Senators and Representatives to make sure they have signed the petition. Phone numbers and e-mail addresses for Sen. Lindsey Graham, Sen. James DeMint and Rep. Henry Brown Jr., all of South Carolina, are below.

Vincent Grande of Pawleys Island attended the Merchant Marine Academy in Long Island, N.Y., from 1942 to 1944 and served in the Merchant Marine for a year and a half during the war. He says it was a rewarding experience.

“I didn’t know what to do with my life and the Merchant Marine gave me a solid background, not only as far as my education goes, but also with knowing how to get along with people,” Grande said. “It is certainly a great opportunity for young men and women to see the world.”

He urges those who are disturbed to hear that Merchant Mariners — who were so instrumental in the success of World War II — have not received any compensation in appreciation for their service in the war, to contact their senators and representatives.

“We need people in Congress to sign the petition by September 6 when the next legislative session begins,” Grande said. “Right now, many Congressmen are at home, so this would be the time to catch them.”

American Merchant Marine Veterans have chapters all over the United States. Vice-president of the Southeastern Region Joe Colon of Florida says there are currently about 1,500 members in his area and about 10,000 nationwide, all who would qualify for the monthly $1,000 check.

He went into the Merchant Marine in 1944 at 16 years of age after recruiters came to his high school. Colon served for two years with the Merchant Marine and then sailed with Army Transport in the North Atlantic and Pacific until 1947.

“I was shocked that we were not considered veterans after the war,” Colon said. “We served in the war in uniform and we were under the jurisdiction of military court martial.”

He is in now working to build a monument to the Merchant Marine Veterans in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The unveiling of the 10-foot by 4-foot memorial is scheduled for Veteran’s Day, November 11. It will read, “In honor of and dedicated to the American Merchant Seamen and the U.S. Naval Armed Guard who served on Merchant ships in World War II.”

Hazel Lewis, whose husband, George, served in the Merchant Marine from 1943 to 1946, is leading the fight for Bill H.R. 23 from her home in Tallahassee, Fla.
“If not for the Merchant Marine operating ships and carrying troops, ammunition, guns, supplies, gasoline, oil and everything they needed overseas in World War II, we could all be speaking German or Japanese today,” Lewis said. “The average age of Merchant Marine veterans from World War II is 81, and with the cost of prescription medication, insurance premiums and medical bills, any extra amount the government could give would be greatly appreciated.”

 

For more information about the U.S. Merchant Marine and the Merchant Marine Bill, visit the official website, www.usmm.org.

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Larry Scott

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