SIU members aboard the auxiliary crane ship Cornhusker State received the Merchant Marine Expeditionary Medal—presented by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta and U.S. Maritime Administrator Capt. William Schubert—during a ceremony Nov. 15 in Newport News, Va. Seafarers received the medals for their professional support of America’s war against terrorism.
Additionally, Mineta and Schubert presented the U.S. Maritime Administration’s (MarAd’s) Professional Ship Award to the Cornhusker State for supplying what the agency described as “exceptional service in providing cargo operations and transportation of equipment during Operation Enduring Freedom.”
The vessel is operated by SIU-contracted Interocean Ugland Management (IUM).
“For six months without relief, the Cornhusker State and crew supported the ongoing war against terrorism,” said Mineta. “In years to come, history will recall the valiant service of the Cornhusker State and crew with these three simple words: duty, loyalty and service.”
SIU Government Services Division Vice President Kermett Mangram and SIU Norfolk, Va. Port Agent Georg Kenny were among the SIU officials who attended the ceremony at the 23rd Street Pier.
According to MarAd, the Professional Ship Award “is given to non-military ships that achieve the highest degree of readiness, performance, efficiency, reliability, productivity and safety. Ships that receive this prestigious award have distinguished themselves through outstanding accomplishments or significant mission contributions to the United States and the American people.”
The Merchant Marine Expeditionary Medal, first approved in 1990 for mariners who participated in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, may be presented to mariners who serve aboard U.S.-flag ships in support of operations involving the U.S. military and national interests.
The Cornhusker State is 610 feet long and is part of MarAd’s civilian-crewed Ready Reserve Force (RRF). All RRF ships are owned by MarAd and managed by private American companies.
As part of Operation Enduring Freedom, Seafarers and members of the American Maritime Officers (AMO) aboard the Cornhusker State were deployed in the Indian Ocean without relief or any port visits for six months. In announcing last month’s awards, MarAd noted, “The RRF ship, crew, and the supporting maritime industry lived up to President Bush’s rally, We will not tire, we will not falter, we will not fail,’ in his September 20, 2001, address to Congress.”
SIU members who received medals included Bosun Scott Palen, ABs Michael Borders, Laurentis Colbert, Phillip Harmon, William Humphrey, Jesus Olbes, David Roof and Stacey Twiford, OSs José Cuevas and Justin Koger, Electrician Jay Clothier, QMED Brad Neathery, OMUs Kurt Benjamin, Kenneth Garner and Anthony Neathery, GUDEs Brandon Harold and Ricky Langley, Chief Steward Charles Scott, Chief Cook Ronnie Hall and SAs John Noel, Robert Weeks and Talib Aekins.
In addition to Mineta, participants in the ceremony included U.S. Maritime Administrator Capt. William Schubert; U.S. Rep. Robert “Bobby” Scott (D-Va.); Mr. Joseph Schumacher, representing U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Davis (R-Va.); IUM President Jorge Aguirre; and MarAd South Atlantic Region Director Nuns Jain.
The Cornhusker State initially was activated in 1991 to support the allied coalition’s mission in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. In 1994, with only five days’ notice, the crew set sail for Haiti where the Cornhusker State effectively supported the humanitarian peacekeeping mission Operation Uphold Democracy for 74 days.
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