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Letters to the Editor

April 2004

(Editor’s note: The Seafarers LOG reserves the right to edit letters for grammar as well as space provisions without changing the writer’s intent. The LOG welcomes letters from members, pensioners, their families and shipmates and will publish them on a timely basis.) Support H.R. 3729 I’m writing this letter to all active and retired merchant mariners to ask for their support of H.R. 3729 to amend Title 46, United States Code, to provide a monthly monetary benefit to certain individuals who served in the United States Merchant Marine (including Army Transport Service and Naval Transport Service) during World War II. H.R. 3729 was introduced in the House of Representatives on Jan. 27 by Congressman Bob Filner of California. The short title is, Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2004. H.R. 3729 would pay a monthly benefit of $1,000 to qualified merchant mariners who served during the period Dec. 7, 1941 to Dec. 31, 1946. Your readers can give us their support by writing to their congressperson and senators requesting they cosponsor Bill No. 3729. Thank you for your help and smooth sailing. James W. Hassett President, American Merchant Marine Veterans of WWII Hudson Valley Chapter Baldwin Place, N.Y. Thanks and a Request First, I and my veteran shipmates would like to thank you and your union for helping get us (U.S. World War II merchant seamen) our veterans’ status. It was a long and tough battle. Thank you for a job well done. Without the union, you don’t have anything. We feel very proud of what the U.S. Merchant Marine is doing today in Iraq and around the world. While there’s nothing we can do for the 238,000 mariners who’ve passed away since World War II, we can do something for the surviving U.S. Merchant Marine veterans — if we can get Bill No. 3729 through Congress. You can help us by contacting your congressman and senators. To write to a senator, address the letter to: The Honorable (Name) United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 To write to representative, address the letter to: The Honorable (Name) U.S. House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 If your representatives agree to vote for H.R. 3729, please let me know by email at dickwiggins@yahoo.com Here is a sample letter: Regarding H.R. 3729, Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act 2004, almost a quarter-million men volunteered to serve in the U.S. Merchant Marine during World War II. In 2004, approximately 5 percent are alive. The average age of WWII U.S. Merchant Marine veterans is about 81 years. Merchant mariners delivered 85 percent of all goods used by U.S. armed services. They delivered guns and ammunition, bombs, airplanes, aviation gasoline and a lot more. They “delivered the goods” — but not without a cost. Approximately 800 ships were sunk and almost 8,000 mariners gave their lives. They were torpedoed, bombed, shot and taken prisoner. Many ships were hit by Kamikaze planes. They died for their country so we could be free. In 1944 President Roosevelt signed the G.I. Bill for the military, and they deserved it. On signing the bill, he said, “It is my wish that our Congress will do the same for our Merchant Marine.” They didn’t and FDR died. Forty-four years later, the U.S. Merchant Marine veterans of World War II were granted veterans’ status. The U.S. Merchant Marine missed out on low-pay education, G.I. housing, medical care and job preference, to name a few. They were forgotten. H.R. 3729 will give them some compensation for lost benefits. Therefore, I am asking for your support and sponsorship of this bill. Since I live and vote in your district, will you vote for H.R. 3729? To our friends in the SIU, God bless you. Thank you very much. Richard Wiggins Kansas City, Mo.