When did the Merchant Marine get veteran status for WWII service?
Some WWII mariners got veteran status on January 19, 1988, after a long court battle. Mariners who went to sea on August 15, 1945, serving in wartime in hazardous waters, got veteran status on November 11, 1998. They were not treated “equally under the law,” in direct violation of the Constitution. Struggle for Veteran status.
Section 401 of Public Law 95-202, The GI Bill Improvement Act of 1977, authorized the Secretary of Defense to determine whether the service of members of civilian or contractual groups should be considered active duty for the purposes of all laws administered by VA. Several applications for veteran status for merchant marine service were denied by the Civilian Military Service Review Board set up by the Department of Defense to make such determinations. Mariners Schumacher, Willner, and Reid, sued the Secretary of the Air Force, Edward C. Aldridge, Jr. [665 F. Supp. 41 (D.D.C. 1987)]. The judge ordered the Board to reconsider their denial and the Board granted veteran status to most WWII mariners on January 19, 1988. Mariners who went to sea after August 15, 1945, serving in wartime in hazardous waters, got veteran status on November 11, 1998. Struggle for Veteran status.
