ShawneeDispatch.com

To the Editor

May 22 is National Maritime Day. There is no better time to remember our U.S. Merchant Marine Veterans of World War II.

The Merchant Marine has served our country honorably in all wars, particularly WW II. During WW II about a quarter million volunteer mariners delivered about 85 percent of all material used in fighting the war on all battle fronts.

The Merchant Marine delivered locomotives, ammunition, bombs, gasoline, airplanes, troops and cigarettes to name a few things but not without a price. Approximately 800 ships were sunk and about 9,000 mariners were killed, 11,000 injured and 600 taken prisoner. They were bombed, torpedoed, shot, drowned and suffered kamikaze attacks.

The Merchant Marine was present at every invasion, including D-Day. Their casualty rate was as high as any branch of the military. The war could not have been won without the courageous Merchant Marines. When the G. I. Bill of Rights was signed after the war, President Roosevelt hoped the Merchant Marines would have the same benefits, he soon died and Mariners became the forgotten service. Congress did nothing, NO G. I. BILL! In 1988, 43 years later and much too late for education and housing benefits, Congress gave veteran status to Mariners. Why did Congress wait so long? We will never know for sure.

Congress should do the right thing and pass bill HR 3729 titled "A BELATED THANK YOU TO MERCHANT MARINE VETERANS OF WW II ACT OF 2004." This bill would help to make up for being forgotten for almost 60 years. We are seeking help from you, the general public, to call, write or e-mail your Senators and Representatives asking them to support and co-sponsor this bill. Your call is toll free at (877) 762-8762, the Capitol switchboard, and ask for your member of Congress. For more information about the Merchant Marine in WW II, go to our Web site at www.usmm.org

Eugene Barner

Shawnee