[ishabibble]

Dear Sir:

Why do you think that you didn't serve? My father was a United States Merchant Marine, an oiler/wiper whose Liberty Ship, Geo. S Wasson, was mined and sunk off the coast of Wales on Jan 31, 1944. My father was 17 yrs. old on that day. The USMM has never been acknowledged for it's service.
To clarify, I will tell you that when he died in 1976 there was no flag allowed on his casket. That changed in 1991, I believe. The KIA ratio for a USMM was double that for a GI. The first and last deaths of WWII were Merchant Marines. The Academy at Kingspoint, NY, is the only service academy to carry a battle standard.

Please don't think that you didn't "really" serve, I think of the Murmansk Run when I hear that phrase...

[rontorr]

maybe you only read my last post, I really did serve, over there I was in air freight, loading and unloading aircraft, and understood my job and value, I was discussing what a hero is, not just a combatant, who is a war hero, but the support people who are sust doing their part, and the things that are done in everyday life without thinking of what you can gain from it. I have some friends who were, or their fathers were, in the Merchant Marine, I was glad to hear when they finally got some recognition, one of my friend's father is currently recieving a VA Pension due to his Merchant Marine service.