Their struggle to be recognize and receive status as VETERANS?
Even though the U.S. Maritime Service was an official, uniformed, armed service created by the Merchant Marine Act of 1936. They had a very long, hard, and difficult up hill battle to receive their recognition and status as a veteran. When the war ended and a Merchant Seaman returned home, he returned without travel pay expenses, mustering out pay, state or/and federal pensions, disability benefits, all Federal Veterans benefits (just to name a few) No home loans at a reduced rate in interest payments, G. I. Loans, on the job training with journeymen’s wage scale, paid college education with living expenses, medical and dental payments, and much more. 1977 WASP’s seek Veterans Status, with a separate bill offered by Senator Barry Goldwater, a retired Air Force General, but Congress insisted on procedures for any other groups to apply. The Air Force Secretary was designated by the Defence Secretary to administer the Civilian/Military Service Review Board. The WASP’s received veteran sta
