Yes, many here served in the military, I did, but the most risks I have taken were on Tankers, in The Gulf during the tanker war.
I know that’s true for everyone here.
And if you’re a merchant mariner, you are a veteran. You may not be recognized as such, which likely makes today bittersweet, but be proud no matter what the shore-pukes say about you.
Take the time to spate a thought for, not just our WW2 Union brothers, but all mariners who’ve sailed in harms way.
A
My father was a WW II maritime service merchant mariner. Sailed the North Atlantic and later the Pacific. It’s well known merchant mariners suffered a higher causality rate than any other service. One out of 26 died. US Marines came in at one in 34. Though FDR promised GI benefits the merchant mariners got nothing. In 2022 congress decided to award a gold medal to those vets, most were already dead. When the first Gulf war was starting I was working on a US government vessel and was asked to go on one of the ships being activated by MSC due to an agreement I signed when I got my license. I told them to f* off as their history of taking care of merchant mariners left much to be desired among other things. An admiral who happened to be in the shipyard came to see me and said he apologized for the treatment my Dad and his shipmates received after the war. I appreciated that.
Respect to your father! As for you, I have a question, what was the reason for to sign that “agreement” to begin with if you already knew how feds treated your dad?
Well, dear old Dad didn’t tell me all the details until after I told him I signed.