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Article: MERCHANT SEAMEN MOVE CLOSER TO GETTING WWII VETERAN STATUS
- Article from:
- The Boston Globe (Boston, MA)
- Article date:
- July 23, 1987
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 1987 The Boston Globe. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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Thousands of American merchant seamen, many retired, soon
may become official veterans of World War II, making them eligible
for government benefits.
They have sought that status both as individuals and in
unofficial groups for more than four decades, since nearly 6,000 of
their shipmates perished in more than 700 sunken ships of the war.
Veteran status for deck, engine-room and steward personnel of
the World War II Merchant Marine came a step nearer Monday when US
Judge Louis Oberdorfer in Washington ruled that Air Force Secretary
Edward C. Aldridge Jr. had erred in denying two earlier
administrative applications made by the seamen for veteran status.
Oberdorfer granted a summary ...