Well Done, America!!! America!!! America!!!Three Big Cheers For Rescued Captain.
By Uncle Monty.
Photos By Reuter News
Photographers, etc.
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For the past five days, I have been intensely following,
on the internet, the rivetting high seas saga and drama
and fate of the American merchant sea Captain Richard
Phillips, 53. His cargo ship Maersk-Alabama had been
illegally and briefly seized by the blatant and dangerous
Somali pirate gangs at the busy seafareing lanes of the Gulf
of Aden. Captain Phillips offered his own self, so selflessly,
to the evil pirates in exchange for the safe release of
all his crew members and his entire cargo ship.
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Bravo, I say to this good and brave Vermonter of America
for his righteous deed that saw him then being held captive
by his Somali captors in an open lifeboat for days. The evil
priates then defiantly demanded a ransom of $2 million,
along with their safe passage, for the release of the life of
the gallant Captain Richard Phillips as American naval
ships arrived to a standoff between them and the
vicious Somali pirates.
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As each day passed, I was more and more enthalled
As each day passed, I was more and more enthalled
by the unfolding scene and was hoping and praying
that the captain would come home as a living hero
and not a dead one!! Now, I, like many many others,
rightly give three big cheers to the forces of the US
Navy for safely rescueing yesterday the good Captain
Phillips from the drifting lifeboat while three of his
four captors were shot dead and one captured by
the USS Bainbridge under the good and skilled
command of the respected US Comdr. Frank
Castellano. Three Big Cheers, Again!!
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Maersk-Alabama captain Richard Phillips, (R), stands alongside Cmdr. Frank Castellano, the commanding
officer of USS Bainbridge, after being rescued by U.S
Naval Forces off the coast of Somalia, April 12, 2009.
REUTERS/Official U.S. Navy photo/Handout.
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I personally would have loved to be with those TV
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I personally would have loved to be with those TV
news crews (shown below) with my own cameras
to record the later celebration and jublilation of the
wonderful and successful rescue of such a brave sea
captain as Richard Phillips as proved to be. His harrow-
ing story of the those dark days on the open Somali
pirate lifeboat as a captive will probably now fetch him
millions of dollars for the story rights of his worthy
deed and his humble life. More power to him, I say.
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Rare are those today like him who would be willing
to offer their own life and limb for his own fellow
human beings. That's why so many people were so
enthalled and fascinated by Richard Phillips and
what he did and so they, and all of us, should be!
***
Television crews interview a crew member of the Maersk-Alabama at the Kenyan coastal sea port of Mombasa the
day before her captain was then rescued. The Maersk-
Alabama container ship had been briefly seized by Somali
pirates earlier last week that arrived safely at the Kenyan
port of Mombasa on Saturday amid tight security. The
captain of the huge vessel, Richard Phillips, was taken
hostage and held captive on a open lifeboat by the
criminal gang of four pirates before finally being
rescued yesterday by naval forces of the US Navy.
Photo: REUTERS/Antony Njuguna.
Photo: REUTERS/Antony Njuguna.
(KENYA CONFLICT SOCIETY POLITICS)
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U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. and UH-1Y crew chief Bryan E. Campbell (R), from Melbourne, Arkansas, with Marine
Medium Helicopter Squadron 163 (Reinforced) of the
13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepares an M2.50 caliber
machine gun during flight operations in support of counter-
piracy surveillance operations in the Gulf of Aden on April 6,
2009. Somali pirates holding an American hostage - Richard
Phillips - on a drifting lifeboat hauled him back when he jump-
ed overboard to escape and vowed to fight any attack by
U.S. naval forces stalking them at sea. Sgt. Anthony Petro
(L), from Des Moines, Iowa, Battalion Landing Team 1/1,
13th MEU, accompanied the crew during their operations.
REUTERS/Robert C. Medina /U.S. Navy photo/Handout
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When Captain Phillips jumped overboard from his captives
as the Somali pirates lifeboat drifted ever closer to shore,
they knew that if they didn't re-capture him they would
be dead ducks without him. They would have no bargain-
ing chips left to get their $2 million ransom demand and a
free ticket to escape to live for another day to help seize
more ships on the lawless sealines off their little more
than a 'Banana Republic' that war-torn Somalia truly is.
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As good fate would have it, three of pirates are now
dead and Richard Phillips is rightly freed and alive
to now tell the world his extraordinary and vivid
story and his once-in-a-lifetime sea adventure ...
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At the end of the day all I can say is: "Well Done,
America!!! America!!! America!!!" For once, I
am proud of the good old US of A and Vermonter
Richard Phillips and the US naval members who
successfully helped to end the five-day standoff
that must now ensure that the evil and lawless
Somali pirates are finally curbed and detained in
future from seizing anymore commercial and
merchant crews and their unarmed ships and
paying cargo for once and for all ...
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Somali pirates attack U.S.-flagged ship but fail to board.
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U.S. Navy rescues captain, kills Somali pirates.
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE53A1LP20090412?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0
U.S. Navy rescues captain, kills Somali pirates.
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE53A1LP20090412?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0
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How Just Three Shots Ended Pirate Standoff
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Obama vows to fight piracy, salutes freed U.S. captain.
http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE53B1UB20090412
http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE53B1UB20090412
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Happy Easter, again, to you all!!
Happily, Uncle Monty.
+Easter Monday, 2oo9.
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:: UPDATE ::
TV show to track U.S. Navy's battles with pirates.
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Somali pirates seize two more ships and attack third.
By Alison Bevege.
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1 comment:
Dear Monty - Well done yourself by the article I just read of your's about the first-class sea captain. You are right to give him so much praise. And praise to the US Navy for bringing to an end the sordid standoff by the nasty Somali pirates was also right. I think the pirates will only be stopped by shooting them dead with no mercy. Like you, I followed the story of the captain who gave his life and freedom in exchange for his ship mates to go free with his ship. It is amazing that he survived his odious ordeal. Obama was right to order the killing of the pirates. Not to make any kind of deal with those African criminals was the right stuff by the US. Some Somali warlords also fired rockets at a visiting US congressman today in retaliation for the deaths of the pirates holding the captain for big bucks.
You made me proud to be an American now living in England. Thanks Monty. A great blog is your's that stimulates I guess many to read what you state like I do. Here's my best to you, C. Drew Partridge, Snr. (From St. Johnsbury, VT.)
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