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Providing Credentials to Mariners
Veterans Qualification Process
| On January 19, 1988, the Secretary of the Air Force, Edward C. Aldridge, Jr., determined that the service of the "American Merchant Marine in Oceangoing Service during the Period of Armed Conflict, December 7, 1941, to August 15, 1945," shall be considered "active duty" under the provisions of Public Law 95-202 for the purposes of laws administered by the Veterans Administration. Although technically not part of the United States Merchant Marine, Civil Service vessels in ocean going service or foreign waters are also included as part of this approved group. |
| On Veterans Day, 1998, President Clinton signed Public Law 105-368. A provision of this law states that service during the period, August 16, 1945, to December 31, 1946, shall be considered active duty for the purpose of eligibility for certain limited veterans benefits. This law also requires that the Coast Guard collect a $30 processing fee for each application. |
To qualify and become eligible for veterans benefits, a member must not only have served within either of the two qualifying periods mentioned above, but also meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Was a member of the United States Merchant Marine including the
Army Transport Service (USATS) and the Naval Transport Service (USNTS) serving as a
crewmember of a vessel that was…
- operated by the War Shipping Administration or the Office of
Defense Transportation (or an agent of the Administration or Office);
- operated in waters other than inland waters, the great Lakes,
and other lakes, bays, and harbors of the United States;
- under contract or charter to, or property of, the Government
of the United States; and
- serving the Armed Forces.
- operated by the War Shipping Administration or the Office of
Defense Transportation (or an agent of the Administration or Office);
- While so serving, was licensed or otherwise documented for service as a crewmember of such a vessel by an officer or employee of the United States authorized to license or document the person for such service.
If you have qualifying sea service between August 16, 1945 and December 31, 1946, and you wish to have this period certified, Public Law 105-368 requires that the U.S. Coast Guard collect a $30 processing fee. A DD Form 2168, Application for Discharge of Member or Survivor of Member of Group Certified to Have Performed Active Duty with the Armed Forces of the United States should be submitted for each WWII request. A copy of the DD Form 2168 can also be downloaded - website.
Before you can receive veterans benefits, you must first submit a DD Form 2168. This form is available from Veterans Administration Offices, Merchant Marine veterans organizations, and from the offices listed below. A copy of DD Form 2168 can also be downloaded from this web site and printed by clicking here.
Request for Military Records (National Archives website)
Completed forms should be sent to the appropriate office:
For Merchant Marine:
U.S Coast Guard - National Maritime Center
ATTN: Records Management Branch (NMC-41)
100 Forbes Drive
Martinsburg, WV 25404
For Army Transport Service:
Army Reserve Component
ARPERSCOM-PSV-V
9700 Page Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63132-5200
For Naval Transportation Service:
Naval Personnel Command
(PERS-312)
Millington, TN 38054-5054
********************PLEASE NOTE THESE SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS********************
- If you have copies of your certificates of discharge or other
documentation of sea service, please submit them with your DD Form
2168.
- Under the Privacy Act, a certified copy of the death certificate
will be needed if you are applying for a Certificate of Release
or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214) for a deceased mariner.
- If you have qualifying sea service between August 16, 1945 and
December 31, 1946, and you wish to have this period certified, Public
Law 105-368 requires that the Coast Guard collect a $30 processing
fee.
- Please send your new DD Form 2168 along with a check or money order, payable to the U.S. Treasury, to:
USCG WWII Merchant Mariner
P.O. Box 530238
Atlanta, GA 30353-0238Overnight Courier Address:
Bank of America
Lockbox Number 530238 (WWII)
1075 Loop Road
Atlanta, GA 30337-6002
Announcement - address for the US Coast Guard is incorrect on the DD 2168 form.
Correct Address - NMC Web Address.
The following is a step-by-step instruction on how to prepare your DD Form 2168. (If you do not have a copy of this form, clicking here to download and print a copy.
NMC Customer Service Center (CSC): 1-888-IASKNMC (1-888-427-5662) email (IASKNMC@uscg.mil)
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