...for not recognizing the U.S. Merchant Mariner. Unfortunate for those brave seamen who faced the peril of enemy planes and submarines along side our brave military personnel, they did not receive official status and recognition as veterans of WWII until 1988 when probably 80-90% of them were deceased.

The responsibility for determination of veteran status for the U.S. Merchant Mariner was in the hands of the Secretary of the Air Force. It wasn't until political pressure was applied in 1988 that the Secretary's committee granted the merchant seaman the status they so richly deserved. The decision was made by Air Force Secretary Edward C. Aldridge, acting in his capacity as the Pentagon's designated administrator of a 1977 law that governs appeals for veterans' status.