As a former member of the US merchant marine and also a former Jack (RN, RAN and RNZN will understand this lingo, US uses the term sqid) and now serving in the US Army I have been thinking alot about the exploits of the US Merchant Marine and how they have been treated since the end of WW2. I believe they should be awarded full veterans rights and services. They were not even accordrd veteran status until 1988. These were truly men and women just as brave and heroic as their military counterparts in fact percentage wise they had a higher number of fatalities than any of the other services. I have just finished a fantastic book covering the history of the US Merchant Marine and primarily its roll in WW2. We hear time and time again about the heroism and bravery of allied forces against the axis powers but seldom do we here of the exploits and trials of those keeping them supplied with 'beans and bullets'.
I am truly impressed with the 'civilian' sailors of WW2 and am a little disgusted wiht how they have been treated by the government since then. There is no striking memorial to them, they do not get to march in parades celebrating the end of WW2, they have only recently become eligible for health benefits and I believe (but I could be incorrect here) that they are still not eligible for the GI Bill. Time for me to go and do something else although I do not know what. So what say all of you? Give them the benefits and respect they deserve and earned or continue to turn our heads whenever they walk by.

I know what your talking about and concur with you. The Merchant Marines deserve to be recognized for thier sacrifices. The govt has tried to readdress this as you mentioned which resulted in provision for health benefits for them. I know it doesn't seen like much now, but anything is better than nothing. What really needs to happen is getting them Veterans status. That would at least open up some doors for them.