The Legionnaires checked in on their comrades, World War II Merchant Marines and a Naval Armed Guard, at an assisted living facility while in Phoenix last month for the 102nd national convention.
Four Legionnaires from Massachusetts checked in on their comrades, World War II Merchant Marines and a Naval Armed Guard, at an assisted living facility while in Phoenix last month for The American Legion's 102nd national convention.
Department of Massachusetts District 6 Finance Officer Bob Lewis, a Navy veteran and Merchant Marine, organized the Buddy Checks. He conducted the Buddy Checks along with three other Massachusettes Legionnaires – Gerald Messier, a member of Acushnet Post 265 and a World War II Army veteran; past Department of Massachusetts commander and Navy Korean War veteran Fred White; and myself, a Navy veteran.
Buddy Checks have been placed on the forefront for The American Legion and heightened because of the COVID-19 pandemic and for suicide prevention efforts.
In his final remarks as American Legion national commander, James W. “Bill” Oxford asked national convention delegates, “What if the veteran you contacted was contemplating suicide and he or she received your call? You could make a life-or-death difference. You could be the call that convinces that veteran that he is valued and appreciated. You could be the call that convinces her there is a community of veterans, us, called the American Legion.”
We did offer assistance and spent valuable time listening to each veteran as they talked about their time of service.
Lewis became aware through the American Merchant Marine Veterans (AMMV), of which he is a member, that Merchant Marines were not treated as veterans even though they received the status by the federal government in 1988. It took time for some VA medical centers to recognize them as veterans, which meant many Merchant Marines could not get the care they needed through the federal government.
“My goal was to check in with them and ask, ‘Is the VA taking care of you?’” said Lewis. He also asked the veterans if their needs were being met or if they needed anything.
At the assisted living facility in Scottsdale, Ariz., we visited two World War II veterans – William Perman, a Merchant Marine, and Bud Roberts, who was in the Naval Armed Guard, a service branch of the Navy that operated gunnery on allied merchant ships protecting them from surface, submarine and air attacks.
Perman’s response to Lewis’s question was that it had gotten much better since the national news story about the Phoenix VA broke in 2014. The Phoenix VA was highlighted in the news because of a scandal of long wait times for veterans, and the VA was also accused of keeping a secret waitlist.
Roberts, who was hard of hearing, seemed to appreciate our visit but made it clear that he was not a hero despite his service during World War II as a gunner. The group of four Legionnaires disagreed as he is a member of the Greatest Generation.
The next visit was with William Roscher, who joined the military at 16 and fell in love with being a Merchant Marine. He served as a radio operator from 1945 to 1948. Then he joined the Army from 1949 to 1974 and retired as a colonel.
The last visit was with Bill Keim. He had unusual stories of transporting horses and sulfur on his ship in support of the war effort; both of which had their challenges he said. He shared a letter that he sent to the members of the Desert Mariners American Merchant Marine Veterans to announce the disbanding of their chapter after 30 years. It was a difficult decision for him but was necessary because membership declined as members aged, faced poor health, and had died.
We also met met with Norman Palmer, who was very involved in the Desert Chapter AMMV with Keim until the chapter dissolved.
At the end of the visits, we felt that we were lucky to be a part of something so unique and that we were able to offer assistance. It turned out that this time, the World War II veterans just wanted to share their memories. The Buddy Checks provided a sense of comraderie with each other and the World War II Merchant Marines. And each veteran that we visited was presented with an award, The American Legion Certificate of Honor.
- Dispatch