Discussion on general-discussion
Maritimelinks.net {Moderator}
now. I have been thinking about this alot recently considering all of
the events that are taking place in our country (the USA).
I recently wrote a peice in the MaritimeLinks Blog about compensation
for the Merchant Marine Veterans of WWII. I have a long history of
military men in my family. I was actually the first to take a
departure and not join the Army in a few generations. I decided in
high school that I didn't want to do the same thing my Dad did (though
I regret it sometimes). So, when it came time to choose a school I
decided upon Maine Maritime Academy. I can say that my time at Maine
was probably the most interesting 4 years of my life. I was not very
familiar with the sea when I chose my career path- I had only sailed
around on small 34' sailboats and did some lake fishing with my Dad
growing up.
Getting my degree at MMA was important to me, but at the time- my 3rd
mates License was the most important thing in the world. I was very
proud of all the knowledge I had gained and the stuggles I went
through to get my STCW. So when I think about the sailors of WWII I
can only imagine how it was for them. They didn't have to worry about
the STCW - they had to worry about being sunk by some Axis u-boat. It
was only the bravery of these sailors who got the supplies to the
front line that won this war of wars. They did not have the protection
of large guns and a fleet to guard them- not until the convoys were
perfected.
So many ships were sunk and so many men were lost, never to be heard
of again. Many of the men who died at sea were never honored for thier
sacrifice. Now- even though we have an established American Merchant
Marine- that is a part of MARAD and the Naval Reserve- these men are
still treated by our congress as if their work didn't matter. Navy
Personnel who served side by side with Merchant Marines on the same
vessels were honored when they returned home from the war- but the
Merchant sailors were not. That seems very callous considering the
Merchant Mariners were directed to follow the orders of the Navy and
were held to military law.
"If the bill passes, the approximately 13,000 World War II mariners
who are still alive and about 6,000 surviving spouses would
automatically qualify for the stipend at a cost of about $1.4 billion
during the next decade... the committee's ranking member, pointing out
that the United States has always relied on civilians to work with the
military during wartime, said awarding a pension to the mariners could
be the first step down a slippery slope.
"We have more than 60,000 contractors in a combat zone," Rep. Steve
Buyer, R-Ind.) said. "Are we going to face this question 20 years from
now, 30 years from now?" he asked..." (NavyTimes, Amos, C.)
To me it sounds like another example of our lawmakers neglecting the
people who have actually fought and paid the price for our freedom.
The majority of our elected officials have no military experience and
do not understand the ultimate sacrifice.
Support House Bill HR23 and Senate Bill 1272 for the Mariners who
helped win the war against tyranny- because if anyone will be there to
support our troops in a time of need it will be the Merchant Marine.