U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation Michael P. Jackson on May 5 presented Merchant Marine Expeditionary Medals to the Seafarers and officers of the Cape Washington at a shipboard ceremony in Baltimore. The Merchant Marine Expeditionary Medal is awarded to those who serve on U.S.-flag ships in support of operations involving American and allied military forces.
"Operation Iraqi Freedom is just the latest of many examples why our nation's security is best-served by a strong U.S.-flag fleet. You can bet it won't be the last," said SIU President Michael Sacco, a guest speaker at the ceremony.
Jackson noted, "The maritime community has served America with great distinction during every major crisis in our Nation's history, and the mariners who crew the ships are the cornerstone of this effort. From the Revolutionary War, through both World Wars, the Korean War and up to today, our mariners have willingly defended and served this nation with enthusiasm and valor."
The Cape Washington took materiel and supplies to American troops for Operations Enduring Freedom/Iraqi Freedom, and the ship and crew have recently returned from the Middle East. In a news release issued after the ceremony, the U.S. Maritime Administration noted that the U.S. maritime industry "has played a vital role in the war against terrorism and current military operations. More than 80 percent of the materiel that was moved to the Middle East arrived on American-flag vessels, including the Department of Transportation's Ready Reserve Force (RRF) ships."
The Cape Washington is part of the Ready Reserve Force (RRF), a fleet of 68 civilian-crewed ships owned by the Maritime Administration (MarAd). Forty RRF ships participated in the recent conflict. "The ships are all crewed by American merchant mariners who volunteered for this potentially hazardous duty," MarAd noted. "American merchant mariners have supported U.S. military action since colonial times, traveling into harm's way to transport materiel and supplies to the armed forces. For this conflict, the mariners not only volunteered to go into a war zone on unarmed ships, but they also volunteered to take anthrax and smallpox inoculations to protect them against possible biological weapons. In all more than 5,000 U.S. Merchant Mariners participated in these (recent) operations."
Maritime Administrator Capt. William Schubert applauded the patriotism of the returning mariners. "We greatly appreciate the efforts of our mariners and their willingness to serve our nation. Our mariners are great team players and their contributions directly contributed to the success of Operation Iraqi Freedom," said Schubert.
The Department of Transportation said it looks forward to similarly honoring all returning RRF mariners with a presentation of medals upon return to the United States.
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