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House OKs bill to pay WWII Merchant Marines $1,000 a month

July 31st, 2007

Critics say legislation would cost $500,000,000 over five years. WASHINGTON â€” Fresno resident Rufus Hernandez and his fellow Merchant Marine veterans from World War II would receive $1,000 a month tax-free under a bill passed by the House on Monday. Hernandez thinks it's only fair, considering the risks merchant mariners took for their country. The Bush administration and some veterans groups, though, are skeptical of the package that could cost taxpayers nearly half-a-billion dollars over the next five years. "It's long overdue, and there are not many of us left," Hernandez said Monday. Hernandez is now 80, long retired from the restaurant business. Several lifetimes ago, as a 17-year-old Sanger High School student, he went off to sea and served on a convoy supporting the invasion of Okinawa. All told, he served two years and on three different wartime ships. He is one of about 10,000 surviving World War II maritime service veterans who would benefit from the House bill. Hernandez noted these are men like Mariposa resident Richard Costa, who signed up at the age 15, and Fresno resident Jack Splivalo, who trained as an officer at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. "We took the same oath as the armed services," said Hernandez, president of the Central California chapter of the American Merchant Marine Veterans. "We took the same training." They faced the same risks, or worse. With its rapidly built Liberty and Victory ships, the Merchant Marine transported much of the U.S. equipment and material used in World War II. By some counts, an estimated 8,300 merchant mariners died at sea and another 12,000 were wounded. But the men were also civilians, exempt from the draft. They did not wear formal uniforms, they could quit when a mission ended and they were not bound by military justice. As union members, they drew higher pay than their Navy counterparts. "They're not veterans," Dennis Cullinan, legislative director for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, insisted Monday. "We have real heartburn with the idea that we're going to given them this $1,000 a month gratuityâ€¦it's not equitable." After World War II, the men of the U.S. Merchant Marine were denied veterans privileges, including the education reimbursements provided through the G.I. Bill of Rights. Lobbied heavily, the Reagan administration eventually designated the merchant seamen as veterans in 1988. Since then, Congress has repeatedly considered various other efforts to further recognize the wartime Merchant Marine. "It's a group of people who helped us win the war, and were never given any of the benefits from that," said Rep. Bob Filner, D-Chula Vista. Filner chairs the House Veterans Affairs Committee, and has been pushing the legislation for several years. Last year, though it was backed by numerous GOP members like Rep. George Radanovich, R-Mariposa, Republican leaders blocked the measure from getting a House vote. The Democratic takeover of Congress freed up the bill, but did not eliminate opposition. Providing an additional $1,000 a month payment will amount to a "special privilege that is not available to other veterans," Department of Veterans Affairs official Bradley Mayes testified earlier this year. The bill will cost $120 million next year and $485 million over five years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. "We doâ€¦have serious concerns about the cost of this bill and how it would impair (the Department of Veterans Affairs') ability to provide the benefits it already manages," Kimo Hollingsworth, national legislative director of American Veterans (AMVETS), testified earlier this year. Found here. Sphere: Related Content

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My wife's step father is 78 years old. He served in the Merchant Marines during WWII from the time he was age 15 to the end of WWII. He went into the Marines and served in the Korean War. I work as an Actuary for an insuarnce Company. Because of the high average age of current surviving Merchant Marines from the WWII era the benefits should be significantly higher for the shorter future life expectation and the delayed payment of the benefits. President Roosevelt had intended to do something to thank the Merchant Marines for the part they played in WWII and he died before it happened. Why has it taken our government more than 50 years top say thank you? Why is this Bill to give benefits to the WWII Mercahnt Marines stuck in the Senate? Lets hope this effort does not die before the final WWII Merchant Marine survivor dies!!! Had these WWII Merchant Marines recieved the benefits that other armed servicemen recieved: THE GI BILL for WWII Veterans included mortgage benefits, education benefits, and medical benefits to name a few. Senate, please get this resolved before Christmas Recess.

Comment by Blaine — November 24, 2007 @ 12:17 pm
My dad came from a long line of patriots in this country. Prerevolutionary to these times. Joining the merchant marine as a cadet was his idea of serving his country. As it turned out he was the "sickest sailor on the seven seas", and upon completion of his first tour, left the service and went to work for N.Y.Shipyard building war ships. Dad never received nor expected any cudos for his part in serving the war effort. We buried Mom beside him last week . I enlisted in the USMC when my turn came and would love to see a bronze VA marker on his grave before they put one on mine. ard

Comment by a.r.d — June 7, 2008 @ 2:37 am
I sure that they pass that bill pretty while therrer are some us are living Perry Strait World War 2 merchant marine veteran Thanks

Comment by Perry Strait — November 5, 2008 @ 11:48 am
My grandfather served with the merchant marines durning WWII. He gets very emotional when he tells us stories of all his fellow marines that was lost durning his time at sea. His ship was even shot down and destroyed. I cannot believe the sacrifices he and other merchant marines had given to our country, yet they really dont get any type of benefits. Please do what is right for our fellow veterns! They deserve it!

Comment by Dominick Cosentino — January 2, 2009 @ 11:14 am

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House OKs bill to pay WWII Merchant Marines $1,000 a month

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