House poised for vote on Congressional Gold Medal for WWII Merchant Mariners

In World War II, Merchant Mariners, whose job it was to ferry supplies to the Allies in both theaters of the war, paid a heavy price.

They had the highest per-capita casualty rate in all of the U.S. Armed Forces during the war, with an estimated 8,300 deaths and another 12,000 wounded. But Merchant Mariners were not recognized as veterans until 1988.

Now, WWII Merchant Mariners are poised to receive a Congressional Gold Medal after a House bill gained enough sponsors to require a vote on the floor.

Rep. John Garamendi, D-Calif., announced recently that his bill, the Merchant Mariners of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act has the 290 cosponsors necessary to get a mandatory vote in the House. The bill is moving to the Consensus Calendar, which typically includes legislation often passed unanimously in the House.

“Throughout the Second World War, our armed forces relied on the Merchant Marine to ferry supplies, cargo and personnel into both theaters of operation, and they paid a heavy price in service to their country,” Garamendi said.

"This group of unsung heroes nobly served our country by operating the ships that transported critical supplies to front lines of the war, and in doing so suffered a casualty rate higher than any other branch of the military," said Christian Yhas, vice president of the American Merchant Marine Veterans, and a chief engineer merchant marine. "In fact, one out of every 26 casualties during WWII was a volunteer Merchant Mariner. America would not be the great nation it is today without their valiant service of yesterday. I urge Congress to support this important bill and recognize this dwindling group of Merchant Marine Veterans from WWII that have served our nation so admirably."