Bill in Congress to Expand Benefits for WWII Merchant Seamen
Representatives G. K. Butterfield (D-NC) and Walter Jones (R-NC) introduced bipartisan legislation this week that would make deserving World War II U.S. Merchant Mariners eligible for honorary veterans’ status and certain veterans’ benefits, Rep. Butterfield's office said in a press release. H.R. 1288, the World War II Merchant Marine Service Act of 2013,would expand the list of documents accepted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to prove service and to grant honorary veterans status to a forgotten segment of the World War II Merchant Marine, the Coastwise Merchant Seamen.
D-Day 70, 2014 WWII Mechant Marine Service Act
During the 70th observance of D-Day, 10,000 surviving World War II American merchant marines, the International Organization of Masters, Mates and Pilots and U.S. Representative G.K. Butterfield will be pressing the Senate to pass legislation giving these veterans benefits they were promised but have been denied for decades. According to MM&P, a few weeks before the D-Day anniversary, on May 22, 2014, the U.S. House of Representatives approved H.R. 4435 – the Defense Authorization Act.
Cheoy Lee Shipyards Delivers New Tugs
Cheoy Lee Shipyards handed over the first in a series of four RAmparts 3000 tugs designed by Robert Allan Ltd. To owners; Hong Kong United Dockyards (HUD). The Taikoo is the latest edition of the RAmparts class design from Robert Allan Ltd., and derives its name from a historic dockyard in Hong Kong operated by Butterfield and Swire beginning in 1907. The yard was responsible for building some of the largest ships in the world during the early 1900's. It was closed in the '70's to be developed into private housing.
House Bill Introduced, Evidence of WWII Merchant Marine Service
Representative Butterfield (D-NC) introduced a bill (H.R. 1288) to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to accept additional documentation when considering the application for veterans status of an individual who performed service in the merchant marines during World War II, and for other purposes. Official text of the bill has not yet been posted. (3/31/11) (Source: Bryant’s Maritime News)
The Forgotten Merchant Mariners of WWII
Don Horton of North Carolina started his career on barges during World War II at the age of 10. His father, mother, sister and brothers all worked on U.S. merchant marine coastwise tugs and barges during the war. In 1942 his eldest brother, William Lee Horton, Jr., was killed when a German U-boat attacked his tug, nine miles of the coast of Virginia. The Merchant Mariners Act of 1988 granted veterans status to merchant mariners who served during WWII. However, the small group of merchant mariners who served on tugs and barges…
USNS Stockham Stops in Guam, Opens Doors to Navy League
Lance Cpl. Jeffrey A. Rapp and Lance Cpl. Nathan G. Seither, assigned to Military Sealift Command (MSC) roll-on/roll-off ship USNS Stockham (T-AK 3017), load rice on a HH-60H helicopter to deliver to outlying islands in support of humanitarian efforts. Stockham is in the Solomon Islands to facilitate the U.S. Department of State and non-governmental organizations humanitarian assistance operation. On April 2, an 8.1 magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami struck the Solomon Islands causing casualties and significant damage. U.S. By Theresa Merto Cepeda, U.S. Military Sealift Command ship, USNS Stockham (T-AK 3017) stopped in Guam on April 26 for maintenance…
