After reading your article "Unheralded heroes of the Merchant Marine" (May 23), I decided to add my two cents.
My husband, Nathan Schwartz, a registered pharmacist, served 32 months in the U.S. Merchant Marine during World War II, both on land and aboard a training ship, as did some of his classmates.
But when he applied for benefits at the Veteran's Hospital after meeting all their requirements, he was told he was not considered a veteran!
I was ready to fight and contacted several government employees about the matter but eventually decided out of patriotism to let it go.
I was without my husband for nearly three years and only the imminent birth of our first born brought him home to me.
My husband passed away three years ago, but I can still remember how upset we were. The help he was entitled to would have made it easier on us as a young, just-married couple without much money.
Well, I got my two cents in after all these years. I feel vindicated that it's now time for the government to take over.
Norma Lee Schwartz, Annapolis