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MSC Commander Reilly credits mariners (5/19)

Rear Admiral Robert D. Reilly Jr., USN, Commander, Military Sealift Command wrote the following letter honoring the contributions of U.S. Merchant Mariners. The message is part of MSC’s observance of National Maritime Day (May 22). Honoring the Unsung Heroes of the Seas, U.S. Merchant Mariners Every day, the men and women who proudly wear the uniform of our nation’s military work tirelessly around the world. They ensure our national security, spread democracy and preserve the American way of life. Some even pay the ultimate sacrifice. As a nation, we hail them as heroes, and rightfully so. But not all heroes wear military uniforms or even work for the government. Often overlooked, but no less important, are U.S. merchant mariners. Few people know that today, May 22nd, marks National Maritime Day, a special day that recognizes the unsung heroes of our nation’s maritime industry who work side-by-side with our military to uphold freedom and democracy. These highly skilled seamen, just as the generations of mariners who preceded them, operate around the world 24/7, going in harm’s way to keep U.S. forces supplied and combat-ready. Their history of service is legendary. U.S. merchant mariners have never shied away from the call of duty, honor and country. They have been the backbone of our nation’s maritime service, especially in war. They have served in every U.S. conflict since the birth of our nation. During the Revolutionary War, merchant mariners helped capture the first British vessel, Unity. During World War II, merchant ships faced danger from submarines, mines, armed raiders, destroyers and aircraft. One in 26 mariners died while serving in World War II, putting the death toll at 8,380 - a per capita death rate second only to the Marine Corps. During the past year alone, mariners distinguished themselves in the performance of their jobs with the highest level of professionalism, competence, and dedication. In the recovery and relief efforts following Hurricane Katrina, five of the 15 U.S. Navy ships on location on the Gulf Coast for hurricane relief efforts were Military Sealift Command (MSC) ships crewed with your U.S. merchant mariners. The United States Naval Ship (USNS) Pollux remained pierside in the New Orleans area during Katrina while mariners provided shelter to emergency responders, fuel to power emergency generators at local hospitals and water pressure to keep kidney dialysis machines operating until arrangements could be made to evacuate patients. In just one week, the crew provided more than 220,000 gallons of much needed diesel fuel. In Pascagoula, Miss., hospital ship USNS Comfort’s medical staff treated patients, while mariners rebuilt a local church. Other MSC ships and crews provided food, fuel and supplies to Navy ships in the area. Piracy continues to be a hazard mariners have faced since the 1800s. Escalating piracy off the coast of Somalia, in Indonesia and Malaysia continues to affect trading routes, yet U.S. merchant mariners work in these waters every day to help deliver goods and products that fuel our nation’s participation in the global economy. MSC is the ocean transportation provider for the Department of Defense and the largest employer of U.S. ocean-going merchant mariners today, more than 50 percent of them. MSC’s 120 active ships – all crewed by commercial or federally employed mariners – move millions of tons of military equipment and supplies by sea every year to deployed U.S. war fighters. They crew the sealift ships that deliver billions of gallons of fuel, combat vehicles and equipment in support of the global war on terror. U.S. civil service mariners preposition these supplies around the world for use by the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy whenever and wherever they are needed. Civilian mariners crew MSC ships and deliver the goods, anywhere and everywhere in the world. Today’s U.S. merchant mariners continue in the proud tradition of those who have served the nation on the high seas for centuries and will continue for generations to come. They willingly go in harm’s way to preserve our freedoms and help our nation prosper. They have the experience, knowledge and commitment to deliver on time, every time, everywhere. On this day, around the nation and in many ports around the world, we honor them; we thank them, and we say, ‘well done, shipmates, well done.’ Rear Admiral Robert D. Reilly, Jr., USN Commander Military Sealift Command ###