[Ishmael]

I posted this on the Newsvine thread:

This is what happens when you have a UNION crew.My Grandfather was a merchant seaman and sailed on the last of the square-riggers. His Sailor's Union of the Pacific Union card was signed by Andrew Ferusuth, the union's founder. My Dad was a merchant seaman all through WW2, and saw action in the Aleutians, North Africa, Sicily, Salerno, Anzio and Iwo Jima. He also did a year in San Quentin for Armed robbery. So he was shot at by representatives of all 3 Axis powers(4 if you count the Vichy French) and only ever used a weapon to commit a crime. He was a member of the Sailor's Union of The Pacific, The Seafarer's International Union and the National Maritime Union. I salute the brave men of the Maersk Alabama and honor their valor that stands in proud traditions of the United States Merchant Marine. As a former tin-can sonarman who sailed those same waters 30 years ago, I know the difficulty the Navy has patrolling these waters and salute my merchant brethren as Iron Men in Iron Ships. Splice the Main Brace for me.

Here's the Yahoo link.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090409/ap_on_re_af/piracy

Huzzah and Hully Gee!