In a proud scene for the SIU and the rest of the U.S. Merchant Marine, Seafarers were honored June 16 aboard the Ready Reserve Force (RRF) vessel Wright in Baltimore, during a ceremony hosted by the U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd). General John W. Handy, commander, U.S. Transportation Command, presented crew members and officers with Merchant Marine Expeditionary Medals for their support of U.S. forces during Operation Iraqi Freedom.General Handy delivered the keynote address. He praised the mariners for “the incredible job you’ve done in support of this nation. You make all the difference in the world, and I salute your dedication, patriotism and excellence. Victory was made possible by America’s dedicated merchant mariners.”
He also said, “There is no doubt you stand ready again, anytime, anywhere. You have proven yourselves to be great patriots time and time again. You are seagoing warriors.”
Vice Admiral David L. Brewer III, commander, U.S. Military Sealift Command, credited the Wright along with the thousands of other merchant mariners who sailed during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“We have prevailed because you answered your nation’s call,” Brewer stated. “You built a steel bridge of democracy from the USA to the coast of Kuwait.”
SIU President Michael Sacco was a guest speaker during the noontime ceremony. He commended the crew and also noted the outstanding cooperation between all parties involved in mobilizing America’s sealift capabilities.
“We were all in it together, and that’s how we got the job done,” Sacco noted.
Also delivering remarks were U.S. Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary Michael P. Jackson; U.S. Maritime Administrator Captain William Schubert; U.S. Marine Corps Colonel Chris Joyce; and American Overseas Marine Corporation (AMSEA) President Leland Bishop.
An aviation logistics support ship operated by AMSEA, the Wright was deployed for 145 days in support of U.S. troops. It provided rapid and dedicated sealift for deployment of U.S. Marine Corps aviation intermediate maintenance activity. The mission included transporting a helicopter platform, a complete repair shop, and equipment for fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. More than 300 Marine Corps personnel operated from the ship during the deployment, providing service and repair in support of the Marine Aviation Combat Element.
Seafarers Recall Voyage
“We did 139 helo drops,” said Recertified Steward James Kidd. “There were many days and weeks when it was 100 degrees or more (inside the ship), but we had a good crew. Everything went well between us and the military personnel.”
Repair teams aboard the RRF ship fixed an estimated 2,000 parts for their fellow armed forces personnel. Those pieces were transported to and from the Wright via helicopter.
“The mood was good, considering we went four months with no shore time at all,” said Recertified Steward Ed Tulley, who sailed as a chief cook aboard the Wright. “Everyone kept their head up. The Marines were nice — all about business, but I made some friends.”
Tulley’s wife, Amber, attended the ceremony and offered another perspective. “It was very scary when I found out about the mines in the water (in the war zone). But I just tried to keep a positive attitude.”
Bosun Tom Moore stated, “Everyone worked together and showed real teamwork. The Marines and crew worked together as much as possible. It was a good effort.”
AB Larry Justin served in the Marine Corps during Vietnam. He noted the contrast between returning home after that war and this one. “After Vietnam, we had a crowd of people, but they were carrying protest signs,” he recalled. “It’s much nicer today.”
OS Seth Rockwell joined the union through a fairly new program that assists displaced Alaskan fishermen. His first trip was aboard the Wright.
“It was a chance to meet a lot of people,” said Rockwell, who lives in Seward, Alaska. “I think the contact between the Marines and the crew was pretty good. We got a lot of overtime and kept pretty busy.”
‘Stormed the Gangways’
The ceremony, one of dozens conducted by MarAd for returning RRF vessels, yielded some of the strongest praise yet for the merchant marine.
Handy noted that despite potential dangers faced by U.S. crews, “there was no shortage of volunteers. Quite the contrary, you stormed the gangways and enabled us to achieve victory in record time…. Once again, you’re among the first to fight and the last to come home. The nation is grateful for your service.”
Schubert described the Wright’s civilian mariners as “great Americans.” He said the rapid transport of materiel aboard U.S.-flag ships for American forces in Operation Iraqi Freedom “was the most successful sealift in U.S. history, in terms of speed and cooperation—especially with our (contracted) labor unions.”
Bishop said the Wright’s performance “demonstrates of the RRF program as a national asset.”
Marine Corps Colonel Chris Joyce said the mariners “did a magnificent job. The Wright is one of two ships that enable Marine aviation to deploy. Without you, the success of our air campaign wouldn’t have been nearly as great.”
Brewer highlighted the overall sealift effort of the U.S. fleet during the war. He noted that the merchant marine moved more than 20 million square feet of vital cargo—enough to fill more than 350 football fields.
Jackson stated, “This was a partnership. When the president began to contemplate the task of sending people into harm’s way, he knew we’d win or lose by virtue of our ability to move (cargo). And there was no more superb team than the one General John Handy brought to the table.”
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