WWII Merchant Mariners Still Hopeful of Gaining Veteran's Benefits

Published Apr 26, 2006 12:01 AM by The Maritime Executive

A new bill before Congress would give remaining World War II era mariners and/or their surviving spouses benefits equaling $1,000 a month for the rest of their lives.

Until 1988, Merchant Mariners who served in WWII were not granted veterans status, effectively denying many of them earlier veterans benefits available to others. More than half of the U.S. representatives have endorsed House Bill 23. The bill would affect as many as 10,000 World War II mariners still alive today.