Editor’s note: The Seafarers LOG reserves the right to edit letters for grammar as well as space provisions without changing the writer’s intent. The LOG welcomes letters from members, pensioners, their families and shipmates and will publish them on a timely basis.New Year’s Resolution: Buy American
On Thanksgiving Day, after feasting on that old bird with all the trimmings, I got to thinking of all the things that we as Americans can be thankful for. Unfortunately, there are concerns, too. Think of the recent Christmas season when all those foreign-made lights were burning here in the United States and our citizens were opening foreign-made presents that were bought at all the malls throughout America. To me, that represents the loss of jobs which will never return to America.
There are very few blue-collar workers left in our country. They are no-collar workers because they’ve lost their shirt to cheap foreign labor. Brothers and sisters, the solution is to just stop buying those foreign products.
The children in America are the only future that America has. Why buy defective toys for them made in China?
Think about it.
Retiree Edwin S. Harris
St. Petersburg, Florida
Thanks to Port Agent
On behalf of the crew and myself, we would like to thank SIU Wilmington, Calif. Port Agent John Cox for promptly addressing a critical issue on the MV Jean Anne. The rapid response by the union continues to show the members the true embodiment of what a union should be. That is, an organization to protect workers and our rights.
Again, thanks for “standing up” with us and for us.
Steward/Baker Samuel Sinclair
Aboard the MV Jean Anne
Sharing WWII Memories
During the latter part of World War II, I was serving as an oiler on the Liberty ship SS Russell A. Alger in Belgium. Shortly after lunch one day, some of the gun crew were attending to duties in the vicinity of the 20 MMs on the flying bridge. A plane appeared from the west, flying low and strafing.
Our gun crew immediately manned the 20s and shot down the plane, which turned out to be a Messerschmitt 109.
All the ships in the area manned all guns. At this time, a plane appeared from the east at high altitude and diving at the ships. A terrific barrage went up and the plane was shot down. However, it turned out to be a British Spitfire! No one claimed the Spitfire, although the not-too- bright pilot was not hurt.
Before the day was done, our stack was painted with a GUNNER logo, swastika and ME 109. I’m not saying the eagle was large, but if we had shot down another plane, we would have needed another stack!
Two of our crew members thought our stack would bring retaliation against us, but pride overcame sheepishness, and our stack remained as the gun crew had designed it.
Eli Rantanes
Clinton, Ohio
(The writer sailed at various times with the MFOW, MEBA and AMO)
Tribute to ‘Uncle Richard’ and to all U.S. Mariners
I would like to share a letter I received from our nephew, Bill Woodcock, a former Marine. It is a “Tribute to Uncle Richard,” but it could apply to all merchant mariners who have done much to keep our country safe and free – with little recognition for their efforts.
“Uncle Richard” is James Richard Boone, an SIU retiree who passed away Nov. 17, 2007. You probably called him by his first name: Jim, Jimmy or Boonie, but his family called him Richard. We all miss him very much.
Mrs. Betty Boone
Parkville, Maryland
Editor’s note: The tribute written by Mr. Woodcock follows. Brother Boone first shipped in 1945, at age 16 – he had dropped out of school to join the war effort. He was a frequent upgrader at the Seafarers-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md., where he also earned his GED. A member of the engine department, he came ashore in 1984 due to health issues.
My Tribute to Uncle Richard
I was 19 years old and was fortunate to be introduced to the Brockmeyer/Boone family. This was due to my beautiful wife, Kathleen, and again I was blessed to become part of such good people.
My best memory is more of a personal story. I find this event highly ironic. It is a good demonstration of Richard as a person. He had always “watched my back,” but this time he really was there for me and many other Marines.
It was 1969. I was in Danang, Vietnam. We were responsible for the security of Danang Air Base and the bomb dump which housed all our bombs – mainly 500 lb. and 2,000 lb. bombs. Unfortunately, someone started a fire in this bomb dump.
Danang Air Base was always a major target for the NVA and Viet Cong. The air base housed A-4s, F-4s, A-6A Intruders, OV-10s, and spy-photo planes. The Marble Mountain helo base also was in this area.
We lost every one of our bombs. They exploded for days. There was shrapnel flying all over the Danang area for miles. Shockwaves were visible in the sky, which looked like ocean waves. Everyone had to stay outside – any type of enclosure would start your ears bleeding. We had a lot of “walking wounded.” The Danang area and airbase were evacuated with the exception of a few outfits. My outfit was one of the Marine outfits to stay to hold down the fort.
The 2,000 lb. bombs would build up a slow cloud of black smoke for approximately 15 minutes and then they would explode like an atomic bomb. The grounds would shake for minutes.
We were being overrun in several directions. Without our bombs for aircraft, we were in serious trouble. The enemy had overrun Freedom Hill, which was only a couple miles from the airbase.
A U.S. Merchant Marine ship pulled into the Danang Harbor, which looked like the Fourth of July because of the bombs exploding. This ship was loaded with new bombs, which were unloaded and taken directly to the waiting fighter/bomb aircraft. We caught the enemy in the open and took care of business.
Without this merchant marine ship and Uncle Richard in the harbor, there would have been many more names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. Without the bombs, we would have been completely overrun.
Thank you, Uncle Richard and your fellow U.S. Merchant Mariners from me and many other Marines! I would venture to say we have many Americans who have never heard of the merchant marine, much less what they contribute.
I admire these men, including Uncle Richard. If you do not believe in faith and/or a guardian angel, this is a living testimony to a man we all love.
Newly Retired Port Agent Offers More Credit, Thanks
I would like to add a few thoughts to my retirement article that appeared in the January edition of the LOG. In particular, I emphasize my special admiration for SIU President Mike Sacco and the late SIU Executive Vice President Joey Sacco, as they reversed the death spiral that the American shipping industry was plagued with at the time they were selected and elected as president and executive VP.
There could not have been a more critical moment for them to apply their skill and contacts and to market their vision of the solution. Without any doubt, this transformed the economic health and safety of the nation. They certainly saved my family’s future.
I also still value the guidance received by the Brooklyn headquarters officials of the 1960s, especially the mentoring by George Ripoll. George was always devoted to perfection and is a unique person of great intensity.
I appreciated the various roles that came my way. I’ll miss working at the craft and miss the dedicated people of Mike Sacco’s capable team – a group which certainly includes Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel. Dave has done a terrific job for the SIU affiliates and members, as well as the leadership among the world’s transportation unions. He has reinforced the solidarity that the SIU has worldwide and can pick up the phone at any moment and get things done immediately, almost anywhere in the world.
We have really great people in the SIU and I am so very proud of them and our members and our contracted companies. We have a winning team, as Mike likes to say, and all of you make me feel so very proud to have been associated with you.
Edd Morris
Piney Point, Maryland
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