As Operation Iraqi Freedom transitioned from all-out combat to the uncertain process of establishing a new government in Iraq, this much remained certain: Throughout the war, without fail, the U.S. Merchant Marine has delivered the goods.
At least 3,000 civilian mariners--including more than 2,000 SIU members--mobilized for Operation Iraqi Freedom. SIU members crewed more than 100 vessels that delivered the troops, tanks, fuel and other materiel that helped coalition forces achieve swift and decisive victory in removing Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's regime.
Vice Admiral David Brewer, commander of the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC), stated, "The U.S. Merchant Mariner has played a vital role in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Most of the tanks, Army helicopters, trucks and vital ground equipment were delivered via ships manned by these great Americans. Operation Iraqi Freedom would not have happened without them."
In addition to MSC ships and at least one commercial vessel (the SIU-crewed Northern Lights), dozens of vessels from the U.S. Ready Reserve Force (RRF) were activated for the war. All of the activation deadlines were met, and Seafarers filled every SIU-contracted job. At the same time, the union met all of its obligations in the commercial fleet.
U.S. Maritime Administrator Capt. William Schubert described the merchant marine's performance in Operation Iraqi Freedom as "the most impressive sealift in history. The men and women of the U.S. Merchant Marine have performed superbly and have once again made us proud."
Schubert also noted, "Our ships and mariners-- teamed with the Military Sealift Command, the U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM), and the Military Traffic Management Command (MTMC) --have provided 85 percent of the surge sealift requirements carrying the torch of freedom and have established a steel bridge of democracy from the United States to Iraq. Additionally, 21,000 TEUs of sustainment cargo have been carried aboard U.S.-flag vessels. The combat power you have seen every day on your television screens could not be massed without the critical surge sealift capabilities we have today."
The sealift effort proved immense and unprecedented in efficiency. U.S. Air Force Gen. John Handy, commander of TRANSCOM, said that between January and early February, TRANSCOM delivered the same amount of materiel that took six months to transport to the Middle East during Operation Desert Storm. He cited the fleet of civilian-crewed large, medium-speed, roll-on/roll-off vessels (LMSRs)--added to the U.S. arsenal after the first Persian Gulf War--as a key factor in that success.
In a mid-March letter to SIU President Mike Sacco, Handy noted, "Once again, our nation has turned to its merchant mariners to project this country's might onto distant shores in order to preserve our freedoms and way of life. Today, your SIU seafarers have answered the nation's call, charged the gangways unhesitatingly and, in record time, ensured our readiness to surpass any challenge that might lie ahead!" (The complete letter was reprinted in the April issue of the Seafarers LOG and also is available in the "Heard at Headquarters" archive on this site.)
"The SIU and the entire U.S. Merchant Marine lived up to our tradition and role as America's fourth arm of defense," said Sacco. "I couldn't be more proud of our SIU brothers and sisters."
Seafarers who sailed to the war zone reported smooth operations, albeit with plenty of scary moments in port. They also noted the excellent camaraderie between the civilian mariners and the military personnel on board.
"We got along great with the military people. It was fantastic," recalled Charles Garrett, who sailed as an assistant cook/utility aboard the USNS Dahl, operated by Maersk Line, Ltd. "A general with the 101st Airborne Division even gave me a service-medal coin to show his appreciation for the excellent service given to his men."
Recertified Steward Steve Dickson, proving that humor remained even as TOTE's Northern Lights survived a missile attack in Kuwait and numerous other alerts, noted that the U.S. Marines on board "are well-trained and polite. They have been learning shipboard lingo, such as the floor is called the deck, and the wall is a bulkhead, left is the port side and right is the starboard. They already know the salty language."
Reports from the Northern Lights reflect the serious dangers faced by civilian crews in the war. During an approximately 72-hour stay in a Kuwaiti port, the ship responded to at least 13 alerts for SCUD missile, gas and/or chemical attacks. At one point, a missile landed near the ship, moving the entire vessel in its berth but not causing any damage or injuries.
Following that episode, ship and military personnel remained in chemical, biological and radiological defense (CBRD) gear at all times.
Northern Lights Captain Jack Hearn credited the entire crew with responding well under pressure, including Bosun John Glenn and ABs John Meier and K. Taylor.
Three SCUD alerts later, Chief Mate Cadigan noted that in deploying the cargo ramp, Glenn, Taylor, AB Ben Purganan, GUDE Abdul Ahmed and Electrician Dan Mitchell "always stayed on deck long enough to secure winches, forklifts and lines. Not once but three times during this ramp deployment. No complaints, no hesitation to go back on deck."
Hearn expressed pride in all of the mariners' performances. "It is amazing that the ship's crew has adapted to wartime conditions within 48 hours," he wrote while the ship was in Kuwait. "There are no complaints of fatigue though the overworked crew has not slept peacefully for days. There are no complaints of danger though the attacks have been steady. Not one man has suggested leaving the port until the area is secure and deemed safe.
"I have an ordinary crew, regulars, and mostly seasoned in the rugged Alaska trade," Hearn continued. "Many of my crew are foreign-born, quite a few of Arabic heritage. I know they've done well, worked hard and given whatever they could to help this cause. This is where the crew of this ship wanted to be: right here with these brave men and women. As professional merchant mariners and as Americans, we feel honored to be here."
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