Senate Bill 133, Congressional Gold Medal For WWII Merchant Mariners

[Jamesbrown]

@Shesova

People on this forum bashed me when I tried to explain how the entire fleet was taken over by our government in WWII and so many did not have a clue as to what I was talking about.

Say what now? As I recall, you had to be educated about that very point.

@Jamesbrown

“By the way, if people want to show the IMPORTANCE of Jones Act, we must first show the IMPORTANCE of privatized shipping and how it WON WWII for us.”

Sheila, I think advocacy by collective groups is great, and it’s praiseworthy that you’re working to support people.

But let’s not try to change history. “Privatized shipping”? Two months after Pearl Harbor, the government stepped in with the formation of the War Shipping Administration, who, in concert with the Maritime Commission built and operated the ships, trained the Mariners, operated the ports, coordinated and innovated a worldwide transportation network–the US flag was for all intents and purposes nationalized for the period of the war (and heavily subsidized before and after).

I’m glad you came around, Merry Christmas!