Volume 10, #13 October 13, 2026

My apologies for being very late about this information, but I wanted to share with you the presentation made by Mrs. Rachel Campos-Duffy, the wife of our Secretary of Transportation and the "godmother" of the NSMV Lone Star State.

Though the christening took place on July 17, distractions have prevented me from posting Mrs. Campos-Duffy's presentation and pictures to our Servant of God Brother Marinus newsletter.

I was privileged to offer the blessing on this occasion, but when Mrs. Campos-Duffy spoke, and invoked the intercession of Our Lady Star of the Sea, I was both surprised and also uplifted in my Catholic faith.

Fr. Sinclair Oubre

Animator of the Cause of Servant of God Brother Marinus

Here is my prayer of blessing:

Blessing on the NSMV Lone Star State

Hanwha Philadelphia Ship Yard

July 17, 2026

I am honored to be here in Philadelphia and bless this training ship. 



Philadelphia is the home of one of our greatest United States Merchant Mariners, Captain Leonard La Rue. Seventy-six years ago this month, he signed on as master of the Meredith Victory at the Norfolk Reserve Fleet, and sailed that same day for Los Angeles. There he loaded military cargo for our soldiers fighting in Korea.

Five months later, he took on 14,500 North Korean refugees at Hungnam, and delivered them safely to Geoje Island in South Korea. On the way, 5 babies were born.

Servant of God Captain La Rue pray for us!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit....

Christ, the Son of God, came into the world to gather those who were scattered. Whatever contributes to bringing us closer together therefore is in accord with God’s plan. Thus those who are separated from each other by oceans, seas, and great distances are brought nearer to each other whenever new ships are built.

Let us, then call on God to bless this vessel, those who have constructed her, and to protect with his gracious help those who will sail upon her.

Let us pray:

O God,

You pilot your church through the stormy seas of this world. 

Prosper the voyages of the training ship, Lone Star State

and all who go down to the seas in her.

Grant that those who sail on this ship 

may have you as their steersman,

so that they may be blessed with all good things

and some day reach the safe and joyous harbor of eternity.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

AMEN

See the blessing at the 6' 20" mark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I472jqJT0zc

Presentation by Mrs. Rachel Campos-Duffy:

Following the ship blessing, Mrs. Rachel Campos-Duffy came up and gave a wonderful presentation as the "godmother" of the TS Lone Star State:

Good afternoon.

It is such an honor to stand here as the godmother of the Lone Star State. Now to the extraordinary ship builders, the craftsmen here at the Hanwha Philly Shipyard, to the Tote services team, to MARAD and the Department of Transportation. Thank you all and God bless you, because as an American, I feel so much pride for the hands that have built this vessel. Those who build our ships and the mariners who crew them are the lifeblood of our nation's economic survival and of our national security.

 I am so proud that my husband Sean Duffy and our president, President Trump, are 100% committed to revitalizing American maritime dominance.

Today we send a very clear message to the world. American shipbuilding is back and the United States of America is reclaiming her right, her rightful place, as the global commander of the seas.

Now before GPS technology, sailors solely relied on key stars to help them navigate. They relied especially on the North Star to lead them because the North Star remains fixed in the same location throughout the night.

In the Middle Ages, men of the sea prayed to the Virgin Mary, who they called Stella Maris, or Star of the Sea.

Because of course, Mary was their north star that pointed them towards God the Father who is their protector and spiritual destination.

Now, no one knows the unpredictability and storms of nature and life like a sailor. A good sailor knows that in the end, only God can calm the seas and bring them to safety. It's a reminder to all of us to look to that North Star. Stay faithful and never underestimate the power of prayer.

To the Texas A&M Maritime Academy in Galveston, I say to you, congratulations. This ship belongs to you.

My prayer for this beautiful vessel is that it will always find safe harbor.

May her engines run strong. May her hull stand strong against the heaviest seas, and may her crews always look towards the horizon with courage, pride, and patriotism.

Stella Maris, without your holy Son, we are lost. We pray that we will never fail in life's journey and that in the days of turmoil and the days of calm, we will always look to Christ and say, "Who is this that even wind and sea obey him?" Our Lady Star of the Sea, protect the Lone Star ship and all of her seafarers.

It is truly my honor and privilege in keeping with this timeless tradition of the sea to formally christen this ship.

I want to thank all of you here for bestowing this wonderful honor on me.

May God bless the Lone Star. May God bless all of you and may God always bless America.

Thank you so much.

See the blessing at the 10' 15" mark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I472jqJT0zc

General MacArthur walking along the shore after the Inchon Landing with Wolmi Island in the background (September 15, 1950) 

As part of the Inchon Landing convoy, the merchant ships were overcome by Typhoon Kezia. A rogue wave struck the Meredith Victory on the port quarter, which caused the military trucks and tanks to break their lashings and slide to the starboard rail.

The result was that the Meredith Victory took on a severe starboard list, and was close to capsizing.

Here is how Junior 3rd Mate Burley Smith described the situation at our December 2025 conference at MITAGS at Linthicum Heights. Burley addresses what took place on his 2000 - midnight watch on September 14, 1950. It begins at the 17:40 minute and concludes at the 22:40 minute mark:

...On September 13 another hurricane, Typhoon Kezia, roared across southern Japan with winds of sixty-seven miles per hour, striking the islands of Honshu and Kyushu. The storm claimed fifteen lives along with the historic Kintai Bridge in Iwakuni, its five wooden arches swept away by the swollen Nishiki River. The storm struck the Second Echelon as the convoy from Yokohama was crossing south of Kyushu at ten knots into the Sea of Japan.

None of the ships had easy going that night. For the Meredith Victory, on station at the right rear of the formation and top heavy with tanks and trucks on its deck, the fifty-foot swell and the sixty-mile-per-hour wind from the port quarter rolled the ship alarmingly. Junior Third Officer Burley Smith was in the process of relieving Second Mate Al Golembeski from his watch when the two officers watched with considerable concern as the ship rolled to starboard and hung healed over. Chains securing the deck cargo started to break, with several tanks sliding until they stopped against the starboard bulwark. The ship slowly righted itself and resumed rolling back to port, some of the trucks now sliding across the deck, the shrouds from the ship’s cranes cutting into their canvas roofs and injuring the soldiers inside. Top heavy with loose cargo, Meredith Victory was in danger of capsizing.

Before he could call the captain in his cabin a deck below, Smith found that La Rue had already braved the violent rolls to climb the ladder and was standing beside him. Silently timing the waves and the motion of the ship for a few moments, La Rue calmly ordered the helmsman, “Hard left rudder,” and told Smith to order “Full ahead” on the engine-order telegraph. No one spoke as the ship slowly turned through the perilous point where the seas were on the beam. When the ship steadied on course with a small angle to the wind and waves, the captain ordering “Slow ahead” to keep the Meredith Victory pointing into the sea, waiting out the storm as it moved past. In the moment, the junior third mate would have turned the ship to starboard, in the direction of the tanks loose against the bulwark, but La Rue, with almost two decades at sea and months of stormy weather under his belt, knew that the time saved in getting the ship around into the wind and out of the quartering sea was most important. Reflecting on the decision almost seventy years later, Smith pointed to this event as an example of Captain La Rue’s calm under pressure and expert seamanship.

As the storm passed a few hours later and the winds and seas calmed, the Meredith Victory resumed her course for Inchon. Meredith Victory arrived at her assigned anchorage three hours late, but with her cargo and crew intact. The men did not know that the day before the Meredith Victory had suffered her trials, the troop transports and cargo ships that had left Kobe carrying most of the 1st Marine Division had turned back in the face of the storm, sure they could not steam through safely. Admiral Doyle had met the ships as the Mount McKinley was working her own way through the storm from Sasebo, ordered them turned around, and led the force around the worst part of the typhoon. Doyle later said Typhoon Kezia was one of the worst he had ever encountered.... (pages 252-253)

A big thanks to the folks at the American Merchant Marine Veterans for covering our December 2025 conference on the 75th Anniversary of the Hungnam Evacuation.

They published our conference story in the Spring/Summer edition, but I just got around to reading the edition.

Below are jpg's of the article, and click here for the link to the pdf.

By the way, we have raised $5,000 for the graphic novel about Captain La Rue/Brother Marinus.

This puts us 20% there. Please help us me our goal of $25,000 so that we can have the publication in time for World Youth Day.

Click Here to make a donation for this great project. Just leave a note in the "detail" box that this is for the graphic novel.

Blessings on this Labor Day Evening,

Fr. Sinclair Oubre, J.C.L., FNI

Animator of the Cause

A big shout out to Msgr. Jim Dillenburg, who had responded to our request, and has made a donation to our graphic novel fund. His gift has brought us to 20% of our goal. Thank you Msgr. Jim.

Mrs. Kyung Ae Jeon has sent us two news articles from South Korea regarding the opening of new exhibits on Geoje Island to honor those who participated in the Hungnam Rescue. I have posted them in Google translation format. For the articles in Korean and to see that pictures that appear in the original post, scroll to the end of the article, and your will find the link to the original article.

Thanks Mrs. Kyung.

I will be leaving in the morning to ride to Champion, Wisconsin for the Catholic Saints of America Program.

This will be a great opportunity to let more people know about Captain La Rue/Brother Marinus.

Check out all the latest information on this great celebration at: https://championshrine.org/americansaints/

Pray for me as I ride the 1,500 miles from Orange, Texas to Champion, Wisconsin.

Blessings,

Fr. Sinclair Oubre

Cause Animator

From the Geoje Internet Newspaper:

Meredith Victory spreads the 'Miracle of Christmas': Geoje Hungnam Evacuation Memorial Park Opens to Honor the Noble History and Humanitarian Spirit of the Hungnam Evacuation Operation During the Korean War; Refugees and Descendants of the Ship Meredith Victory Attend; 500

• Posted 2026.06.26 16:02

Geoje City held the opening ceremony for the Heungnam Evacuation Memorial Park at 10 a.m. on the 26th at the plaza of the Heungnam Evacuation Memorial Park in Jangseungpo-dong.

About 500 people attended the opening ceremony on this day, including national merit recipients, war veterans, refugees and descendants of the Hungnam evacuation operation, heads of institutions and organizations, and citizens.

The event was made even more meaningful by the attendance of South Hamgyong Province Governor Son Yang-young, known as 'Kimchi 1' and born on the SS Meredith Victory, Mr. Lee Gyeong-pil, known as 'Kimchi 5', and Lim Young-jin, CEO of Sungsimdang and a descendant of the SS Meredith Victory refugees. CEO Lim presented 500 sets of madeleines to celebrate the opening.

The event proceeded in the following order: a pre-ceremony performance, a progress report, commemorative and congratulatory remarks, the selection of scholarship recipients, the presentation of plaques of appreciation, the delivery of the Hometown Love Donation, an opening performance and ribbon cutting, and a tour of the memorial hall.

The Hungnam Evacuation Memorial Park was established to remember the humanitarian spirit of the Hungnam Evacuation Operation during the Korean War and to commemorate the historical fact that the ship Meredith Victory, carrying about 14,000 refugees, safely arrived at Jangseungpo Port on December 24, 1950.

The fact that the cargo ship Meredith Victory, with a capacity of only 67 people, arrived in Geoje carrying over 14,000 refugees without a single casualty is regarded as a humanitarian rescue operation unprecedented in the world.

The Heungnam Evacuation Memorial Park, built on the site of the former passenger ferry terminal in Jangseungpo-dong, features an exhibition hall, a memorial plaza, and rest facilities.

The exhibition hall is designed to allow visitors to directly experience the tense situation of the time by bringing to life the history from the outbreak of the Korean War to the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, the Hungnam Evacuation Operation, and the settlement process in Geoje through cutting-edge media art and interactive content.

Starting with the opening ceremony, Geoje City plans to operate various educational and experiential programs and special exhibitions to widely promote the historical value of the Hungnam Evacuation Operation and to develop it into a representative historical and cultural tourism resource of the region.

Geoje Mayor Byun Gwang-yong said, “The Heungnam Evacuation Memorial Park was established to remember and carry on the noble spirit of the Heungnam Evacuation Operation, which blossomed with humanity and hope amidst the horrors of war,” adding, “I hope many people will visit this place and spend a meaningful time reflecting on the preciousness of freedom and peace.”

Meanwhile, the Hungnam Evacuation Memorial Park is scheduled to officially open to citizens and tourists starting at 9:30 a.m. on the 27th.

(see original story and photographs: https://www.gjn.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=81024)

'Miracle of Christmas' that abandoned weapons and carried 14,500 Refugees... Geoje 'Heungnam Evacuation Memorial Park' to Open

Posted 2026.06.19. 11:15

2026.06.19. 11:27

A special space is opening to shed new light on the miracle of the 'Meredith Victory,' which carried 14,500 refugees during the Korean War, departing from Hungnam, South Hamgyong Province, and arriving at Jangseungpo Port in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province.

Geoje City announced on the 19th that it will hold an opening ceremony for the Heungnam Evacuation Memorial Park on the 26th at the former Jangseungpo Port passenger terminal and open it to citizens starting on the 27th.

This park, funded with 15.4 billion won including state funds, was created to commemorate the Hungnam Evacuation Operation, considered the most humanitarian operation in world history. It was initiated in 2011 and completed after 15 years.

The Hungnam Evacuation Operation was an operation in which approximately 100,000 members of the U.S. 10th Corps and the Republic of Korea Army 1st Corps, along with approximately 100,000 refugees, were evacuated from Hungnam City, South Hamgyong Province, from December 15 to December 24, 1950, during the height of the Korean War.

Panoramic view of Heungnam Evacuation Memorial Park. / Geoje City

The USS Meredith Victory, a 7,600-ton transport ship at the time, was the last vessel to depart from Hungnam Port on December 23, 1950. Instead of discarding its cargo, including weapons, it carried 14,500 refugees and arrived at Jangseungpo Port in Geoje on December 25. It was listed in the Guinness Book of Records in 2004 for carrying out the largest rescue operation by a single vessel. It is known as the "Miracle of Christmas."

The most important facility of the Hungnam Evacuation Memorial Park is the Hungnam Evacuation Memorial Hall, a two-story building with a total floor area of ​​2,771 square meters created by remodeling the old passenger ship terminal. Although it was not possible to bring in a ship of the same type as the Meredith Victory from that time due to limitations such as cost, a sculpture modeled after the bow of the Meredith Victory was installed on the exterior of the building to add symbolism.

Inside, there are 11 exhibition spaces designed to tell stories about the Hungnam Evacuation Operation and the residents who fled to Geoje. The desperation and brutality of that time, 76 years ago, are vividly portrayed through AI-generated videos and holograms. There is also an interactive space where visitors can experience the bitter cold of minus 20 degrees Celsius. Spaces have also been prepared to introduce figures such as Leonard LaRue, the captain of the USS Meredith Victory and a hero of the Hungnam Evacuation Operation, and Dr. Hyun Bong-hak, known as the "Korean Schindler," who persuaded the US military to allow refugees to board as an interpreter at the time.

[The 'Meredith Victory' was recognized as the ship that successfully carried out the world's largest rescue operation and was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records in 2004, but it disappeared into history after being sold to China for scrap metal in 1993. /Chosun Ilbo DB]

Lee Gyeong-pil (76), who was born on the ship Meredith Victory while fleeing the war, said, “There can be no distinction between the ruling and opposition parties when it comes to national security,” and added, “I hope that by reinforcing the actual materials, this place will become a space for thinking about the importance and fundamentals of national security.” At the time, five lives were born on the refugee ship, and the crew gave the children, who were symbols of hope born amidst the misery of war, the name of a food Koreans like, kimchi, and a number. Lee was called ‘Kimchi Five (5).’ Lee’s birthday is December 25.

Along with the opening of the Heungnam Evacuation Memorial Park, Geoje City also operates the 'Heungnam Evacuation Memory Sharing Center' to collect memories from refugees and their descendants scattered across the world. This is intended to directly record the voices of surviving refugees and their descendants before the memories of that time fade away with time.

Participants include refugees who directly experienced the Hungnam Evacuation Operation, their descendants, and descendants of war veterans. The city plans to provide participants who share their memories with souvenirs of their visit to Geoje, lifetime passes to the Hungnam Evacuation Memorial Hall, and personal interview video recordings as a token of gratitude.

Geoje Mayor Byun Gwang-yong stated, “The Heungnam Evacuation Memorial Park will go beyond a mere memorial space to become a place that conveys the values ​​of humanity and peace,” adding, “We will strive to ensure that the history of miracles that bloomed amidst the pain of war is not forgotten.”

(see orginal story and photos: https://www.chosun.com/national/2026/06/19/X5U75VAPT5BWPFQT5R36UTAIYY/

The Brother Marinus Guild has been working with Voyager Comics (https://shop.voyagecomics.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqlsh4fAgCb4oTdb13mQP2s46v6D261fwRXO7JTu3sIG_WwgCRp) for the last few months to produce a graphic novel (comic book) for Servant of God Brother Marinus.

Our hope is that we will have it ready for World Youth Day.

Through the generosity of of donors, we have raised $5,000.00. A big thanks to:

• Mr. Michael Laws
• Fr. Gary Padgett
• Fr. Sinclair Oubre
• Msgr. Jim Dillenburg

Your help in making this possible and sharing the great story of Servant of God Brother Marinus will be much appreciated.

You can make your gift through the AOS USA web site at: https://www.aos-usa.org/brother-marinus-guild Just mark on the donation for "graphic novel."

Would you consider a gift of $500.00. This would move us jforward very quickly.

Also, know that we will have a pilgrimage through Bible Trek Tours to World Youth Day and a visit to Geoje do Island. See details here: https://www.bibletrektours.com/_files/ugd/6a7710_2ccd11bed6a5482abfaa6227d994d7fe.pdf

Thank you for your prayers and support of the cause of Servant of God Brother Marinus,

Fr. Sinclair Oubre

Cause Animator

I am so excited to pass on to all our Guild members and supporters of the cause of Servant of God Brother Marinus the exciting news that we will be in Champion, Wisconsin at The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion for their fabulous 4th of July Saints of America extravaganza.

As they note in their press release:

"The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion – the first and only approved Marian apparition site in the U.S. – is hosting the Catholic Saints of America exhibit July 1-9, 2026, to celebrate the country’s 250th anniversary. This first-of-its-kind Carlo Acutis-inspired exhibit will honor the holy men and women of America, Saints, Blesseds, Venerables, and Servants of God, who have shaped the nation’s faith and offer inspiring models of Christian virtue."

So, if you up and around Green Bay, drop by Champion between July 1-9, 2026. Here is the link for the home page for the Saints of America: https://championshrine.org/americansaints/

I will be at our Servant of God Brother Marinus booth from July 3 - 5, 2026. I will be talking to folks about the cause and distributing our tri-fold and holy cards.

In addition, they are promoting a nine-day Novena. Click here to sign up for the novena, and join me in praying for all the causes of the United states: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/6wHYKpO

Blessings,

Fr. Sinclair

A few weeks ago we were approached by Philip Kosloski of Voyage Comics. He reached out to us about the possibility of producing a comic or graphic novel about the life of Captain Leonard La Rue/Brother Marinus.

We were very excited about the idea. Having such a product that can help promote the cause is very exciting. However, the cost for producing 10,000 copies to be distributed world-wide is $25,000.00.

We have received two donations already for $3,000.00. Yea! That is 10% of the costs. All we need to do is raise the other 90%.

My hope is that we can raise this amount in time to have this graphic novel/comic book produced before the October 2027 World Youth Day in Seoul.

You can contribute by going to: https://www.aos-usa.org/brother-marinus-guild.

There you can give a donation, and also write a note in the "Whom may we thank..." section that your gift is for the graphic novel/comic book. At the same time, you will be enrolled as a Servant of God Guild Member.

Blessings in this Easter Season,

Fr. Sinclair

Animator of the Cause of Servant of God Brother Marinus

Click here to renew or join the

Servant of God Brother Marinus Guild

(https://aos-usa.org/brother-marinus-guild)

This was something that I should have done back in October of 2025, but things have been a bit busy around the parish, the Diocesan Tribunal, and on the waterfront.

However, no more procrastination!

Great progress has taken place in the cause for Servant of God Brother Mariner in 2025.

• Sr. Therese Lee has been named the diocesan postulator;
• We held a great conference MITAG's Maritime Conference Center on the 75th Anniversary of the evacuation of Hungnam (see below for videos of speakers);
• Bishop Sweeney has reestablished the Historical Commission, and they soon will beg in their work;
• And to quote Julie Andrews in My Fair Lady, "With a little bit of luch, with a little bit of luck...." We will be at the World Youth Day in Seoul, South Korea and will visit Geoje Do Island before returning to the US. This pilgrimage will be though Bible Trek Tours. Information will be posted soon.

So, please become a member of the Servant of God Brother Marinus Guild, or renew your membership. Anyone who renews at the $100.00 or more level will receive a copy of Burley Smith's reflections on the the Hungnam Evacuation.

I am making a personal challenge to meet or exceed my gift of $600.00.

Click here to renew or join

the Servant of God Brother Marinus Guild

(https://aos-usa.org/brother-marinus-guild)

Brother Marinus Leonard LaRue (1914-2001), U.S. Merchant Marine captain in the Korean War, heroically evacuated 14,000 refugees from a besieged North Korean port and brought them to safety.

Born in Philadelphia to a devout Catholic family of five children, Leonard LaRue was raised to serve others and, as a youth, was captivated by tales of ocean adventures.

He attended the Pennsylvania Nautical School, graduated in 1934, and joined the Merchant Marine.

During WWII, as epic navy battles were fought between the Germans and Allied countries, LaRue participated in a series of dangerous runs to and from the Soviet port of Murmansk.  

The Merchant Marine provided invaluable help during the Korean War as well, with its ships transporting troops, supplies and equipment.

In 1950, LaRue was ordered to North Korea to skipper the SS Meredith Victory, a 455-foot U.S. Merchant Marine cargo freighter docked at Hungnam, in northeast Korea.

Captain LaRue arrived three days before Christmas to a scene he later likened to Dante’s Inferno.

Hungnam was to serve as an evacuation point for more than 100,000 South Korean and American troops. As many as 90,000 Koreans, terrified of being killed or imprisoned by the approaching Communist Chinese, had also converged on the port hoping to be rescued. 

The freighter was designed to hold 60 people. The crew numbered 37. Captain LaRue took one long, hard look at the chaotic mass of humanity huddled on the docks, then ordered almost all of the supplies unloaded in order to make room for 14,000 refugees. 

In the middle of a war zone, the Meredith Victory had no mine detector, no weapons besides the pistol in Captain LaRue’s pocket, no doctor, and no interpreter.

As the ship headed 500 miles to the South Korean port of Busan (formerly Pusan), passengers spent two wretched, freezing cold nights on the exposed decks with no food, sanitary facilities or warm clothing.  

The Meredith reached Busan on Christmas eve only to be turned away. There were too many refugees thronging the port already. Go fifty miles to the southwest, Captain LaRue was told, to the island of Koje Do (now Geojedo).

This port, too, was crowded, and on Christmas night the refugees were again forced to stay on the open sea. On December 26, two Navy ships were finally able to reach the freighter and evacuate the passengers to safety.

Not a single person had been lost. Instead, miraculously during that treacherous journey, five babies had been born.

The Guinness Book of World Records named Captain LaRue’s feat the “largest evacuation from land by a single ship” in human history. The United States Maritime Administration called the effort "the greatest rescue by a single ship in the annals of the sea."

The episode left a permanent mark on the man who had led the rescue.  

When the war had ended, and after twenty years at sea, in 1954 LaRue left the Merchant Marine to become a Benedictine monk at St. Paul’s Abbey in Newton, New Jersey.

There he lived for 45 years until his death, continuing his life of service under the name Brother Marius.

''I think often of that voyage,” he later said. “I think of how such a small vessel was able to hold so many persons and surmount endless perils without harm to a soul. The clear, unmistakable message comes to me that on that Christmastide, in the bleak and bitter waters off the shores of Korea, God's own hand was at the helm of my ship.''

We had a great conference, and through the great work of Ross Rowlinson, the presentations have been preserved, and posted to our Servant of God Brother Marinus YouTube page. You can to to the playlist directly by clicking HERE, and then click on the "75th Anniversary of the Hungnam Evacuation Playlist.

Also, I want to draw your attention to a new video by a young podcaster "Our Catholic Heroes." She posted a 5-minute video of Captain La Rue. Click HERE to watch this nice synopsis of Captain La Rue/Brother Marinus.

In this issue, I am posting the link to each of our conference's videos.

I am also sending out a big thank you to our conference sponsors who made it all possible:

• The Master, Mates & Pilots
• Mr. Burley Smith
• Pasha Group
• American Merchant Marine Veterans
• Maritime Expert Group, Inc.
• Seafarers International Union
• The Apostleship of the Sea - USA
• The West Gulf Maritime Association
• Bradley Digital
• Liberty Ship John W. Brown

Fr. Sinclair Oubre

Animator

On November 8, 2025, the American Veterans Center sponsored a conference that traced the courage of our veterans from 1945 to the present day.

As part of that program, Burley Smith and Kimchi 1 (Sohn Yang-Young) were present and shared their experiences with the conference's attendees.

That evening, Burley and Sohn Yang-Young (Kimchi 1) shared their reflections with two military veterans from the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir during the American Valor Program.

Click the above video, and scroll to the 34 minute and 37 second to see the Chosin Reservoir segment.

It brought tears to my eyes as I watched it.

Fr. Sinclair

I'm very fortunate that I get air time at a couple local radio stations through a contact in the Korean War Veterans NC #1 chapter in Redding, CA. I was back on KCNR June 13th at 7:30am on Free Fire Radio with Carl Bott to talk more about the merchant marine. My merchant marine bit starts about 37 minutes into this podcast at:

http://apps.kcnr1460.com/media//podcasts/Free_Fire_Radio/Free_Fire_Radio_2024-06-13.mp3

I will continue doing more radio interviews to share any updates or news that I have on the merchant marine. Here's two new topics and an update that I want to share for this article.

I was contacted by a quilter I have known for some years, just as I was leaving for my two-week trip to Japan in May. It turns out her father, James E. Gregg, was a WWII Merchant Marine. She had discovered a Japanese flag in his belongings after he passed away and had been saving it even though other family members told her to throw it away. James served in the Pacific and she thinks that he found this in the Philippines. He probably picked it up as a war souvenir.

I went to her house immediately, where I saw this signed flag displayed on her dining room table. After consulting with some Japanese speaking friends, I explained to her that this flag had belonged to a WWII Japanese soldier from Gifu Prefecture and that there were signatures on it from his family, wishing him good luck and a safe return. These flags are called Yosegaki Hinomaru. As you can see in this photo, there are blood stains on this flag.

They were usually folded and worn as headbands under the soldiers' helmets.

For anyone who has one of these flags, please visit the Obon Society site at obonsociety.org and download their return form. Then you can mail or ship it to the Obon Society ( contact@obonsociety.org ) 503-741-3733 P.O. Box 282, Astoria, Oregon 97103.

They will try to track down any surviving family or descendants who may want this flag from their long deceased relative. They are very successful in finding these relatives and they have been providing this important service for 15 years.

The Obon Society has notified me that they have received my cardboard tube that contained the carefully rolled up Japanese flag. I will update the story of this flag as the search moves along. The timeline can be anywhere from months to years, depending on the research needed to contact living family members.

***2025 is the 75th Anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War. The Meredith Victory will be featured in a Hungnam Rescue special exhibit at the American Merchant Marine Museum in Kings Point, NY, coordinated by Dr. Joshua Smith, Maritime Historian and AMMM Director, supported by Jongwoo Han, President of the Korean War Legacy Foundation and Burley Smith.

There were 64 merchant marine ships involved in the Hungnam Evacuation and 16 of them received Commendation for rescuing Korean refugees.

Because of my Dad's merchant marine service during the Korean War and all the work I've done assisting Mike Helbig with his research, I have been providing copies of documentation on these ships, magazine and newspaper articles to Josh for this exhibit to broaden its scope. Here's a quote from MSTS Magazine, May 1951, pg 14.

"In a letter from RADM J. H. Doyle, Commander of amphibious forces in the area, to COMSTSWESTPAC, the ships were listed as “noteworthy for the high caliber of their performance” during the evacuation. American Export Lines’ ship Exmouth was singled out as “especially worthy of commendation for the all around cooperation and outstanding seamanship displayed.”

"In adding the commendation of the MSTS to RADM Doyle’s, RADM W. M. Callaghan, COMSTS, stated to the owner, “. . . Such support is indicative of the contribution which the American merchant marine has so often made to national security through its assistance to the United States Navy in the fulfillment of its mission.”

"Here's a list of the 16 commended ships, with their Masters:

Exmouth Victory of Export Lines – Leonard Lee Smith

California of Pacific Atlantic Steamship Co. – Robert H. Salter

Choctaw of Waterman Steamship Co. - Harry F. Ryan

Madaket of Waterman Steamship Co. - Elwood L. Chapman

Southwind of South Atlantic Steamship Lines - Hendrick Van't Wout

Robin Gray of Robin Lines - Richard J. Ryan

Robin Kirk of Robin Lines - James C. Herbert

Helen Lykes of Lykes Bros. Steamship Co. – Clement Hunter

Mormacmoon of Moore-McCormack Lines - Philip W. Atkinson

Carleton Victory - Fredrick G Collison

Hunter Victory - Charles Dreusch

Lane Victory - Marinus Olsen

Meredith Victory - Leonard P. LaRue

Morgantown Victory - Roman Wank

Rider Victory – Eddo H. Feyen

Virginia City Victory - Saamund Saamundsen"

Based on earlier research by Ned Forney, it is thought that Burley Smith is now the only known living crew member of the Meredith Victory. I've found crew lists for the other 15 ships in the hopes that some crew members from them might still be living. To begin the search, here's a list of the Virginia City Victory crew from the time of the Hungnam Rescue. If you see your name,

know who any of them are or are related to any of them, please email me at

sroseqlter@gmail.com I'd like to document any info you have, and if you're a living crew member, add you to the 75th Anniversary Contact List!

Virginia City Victory crew as of January 1951, returning to SF:

Saamund Sasmundsen, Master age 62

George Paul Kerwin, Chief Mate age 30

Joseph Vernon Williston,2nd Mate age 42

John Thomas Hoffmeyer, 3rd Mate age 23

John Wilmer Phillips,Jr 3rd Mate age 45

Christopher Adolphus Lake, Bosun age 42

Claude Herman Gruber,Carpenter age 47

Daniel Ross, AB age 30

Harold Davidson Slater, AB age 27

John David Bryant, AB age 45

Cono Bucolo, AB age 34

Oscar Humberto Ramirez, AB age 32

James Edward Crowell, AB age 47

John Nick Economon, OS age 23

Willis Horton, OS age 38

Pastor Gainza, OS age 28

George Read, Deck Utility age 30

Richard Hamilton Larson, Deck Utility age 34

Kenneth Gary Arnold, Radio age 23

Alonso Wilkinson Payne, Purser age 26

Edmund Frank Janiczek, Chief Engineer age 36

Lonnie Lafayette Waters, 1st Assistant age 56

John Francis Crowley,2nd Assistant age 53

Ernest Bert Mattson, 3rd Assistant age 30

Clarence L. Noles, Jr. 3rd Assistant age 25

Antonio Lago Blanco, Unl Jr Engineer age 52

Robert Maxwell, Unl Jr Engineer age 36

William Lawrence Dailey, Unl Jr Engineer age 43

David Wescott Hilton, Electrician age 48

George John Ferguson, Assistant Electrician age 25

Leveson Neville Simon, Oiler age 46

Luis Montalvo, Oiler age 40

James Evangelos Banos, Oiler age 36

George Alexander, FWT age 40

Domingo Larino Vazquez, FWT age 35

Frank Lee Pierce, FWT age 27

Leon Sherly Sims, Wiper age 24

Alejandro Torres, Wiper age 37

Salvatore Samuel Diliberto, Wiper age 25

Lewis Reed, Steward age 55

Alfred Joseph Raymond Bell, Chief Cook age 55

Harry William Budriss, 2nd Cook/Baker age 40

Carlos Souza Caffarate, Assistant Cook age 41

Sam Bazile, Messman age 33

John Ekow Albert Arthur, Messman age 32

Louis Prieto, Messman age 30

Frank Conway, Utility age 48

Felix Paris, Utility age 28

Peter Ronald Green, Utility age 33

While researching the remaining 48 merchant marine/MSTS ships, I have found that there were 8 women who were serving during the Hungnam Evacuation. They are:

USNS General H. B. Freeman – Margaret Musett Creighton Daniels, Anna Charlotte (Bryan)

Seiple

USNS General E. T. Collins – Jean (Cahn) Collins

USNS General A. W. Brewster – Dorothy Irene (Agar) Lannon

USNS Fred C. Ainsworth – Evelyn Irene Frazier, Augusta Della (Johnston) Shelton, Helen

Gwendolyn Storie

SS Elly – Nora Emilia (Muus) Sterritt

Dave Yoho kindly emailed me photos of his Quilt of Valor, which is beautifully displayed in a

guest bedroom in his house. He said "I had the quilt placed on the bed in one of our guest rooms

and have received lavish praise from those who used that room. I applaud the intent and purpose

of the quilt and the organization that stands behind it."

I've updated his Quilt of Valor story on Quilt Index (quiltindex.org//view/?type=stories&kid=51-

149-100 ) with one of the photos and shared them with the Shasta Piecemakers, the chapter that

made his quilt. They are thrilled to hear this news!

That's all for now,

Scarlett

Dave’s Quilt of Valor is at https://quiltindex.org//view/?type=fullrec&kid=51-148-402

The US Ship of Miracles that saved 14,000 North Korean refugees

23 December 2019

Laura Bicker

BBC News, Seoul

Almost 70 years ago, a US merchant marine ship picked up more than 14,000 refugees in a single trip from a North Korean port. This is the story of that journey, and some of those on board.

It was Christmas Day in 1950, and this was no ordinary birth.

The mother was one of 14,000 North Korean refugees crammed into a US merchant marine ship, fleeing the advancing guns of the Chinese army.

There was barely enough room on board to stand - and there wasn't much medical equipment, either.

"The midwife had to use her teeth to cut my umbilical cord," Lee Gyong-pil tells me some 69 years on. "People said the fact that I didn't die and was born was a Christmas miracle."

Mr Lee was the fifth baby born on the SS Meredith Victory that winter, during some of the darkest days of the Korean War.

The Meredith Victory's three-day voyage saved thousands of lives, including the parents of the current President of South Korea, Moon Jae-in.

It also earned the cargo freighter a nickname - the Ship of Miracles.

Read full article and see the pictures at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-50805106

Prayer for the Cause of

Servant of God Brother Marinus

           God, our Father, Creator of the seas, Protector of refugees, and all those in need,

           You called Captain Leonard LaRue to recognize Your Son Jesus Christ in the faces of the Korean refugees, and led him as Brother Marinus to a life of prayer and service in the tradition of St. Benedict. 

           May his life be an inspiration to us, and lead us to greater confidence in Your love so that we may continue his work of caring for the people of the sea, welcoming those who are refugees from war, and deepening all the faithful in their prayer and work of service.

           We humbly ask that You glorify Your servant Captain Leonard LaRue/Brother Marinus on earth according to the design of Your holy will, and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Through his intercession, grant the favor I now present (here make you request) Through Christ our Lord.

AMEN

Nihil Obstat: Rev. Stephen T. Prisk, S.T.L.

Censor Deputatus       Date: July 22, 2022

Imprimatur: The Most Reverend Kevin J. Sweeney, D.D.

Bishop of Paterson    Date: July 22, 2022

Decree Initiating Cause: + Arthur Serratelli, S.S.L., S.Th.D., D.D.

Bishop of Paterson    Date: March 25, 2019

Fr. Sinclair was invited to address more than 700 Catholic men at the 6th Christ In You Men's Conference at the Montagne Center at Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas.

Both Fr. Dennis' video and this one from Fr. Sinclair are excellent videos in introducing people to the cause of Servant of God Brother Marinus.

I am with my brother priests of the Diocese of Beaumont this week for our annual convocation. Dan from the Catholic Leadership Institute was with us, and directed us on how as pastors we could move move from maintaining our parishes to become more vibrant mission-driven parishes.

In the course of his presentation, he mentioned that any any project, there comes a time when the wheels fall off the project. I was beginning to get that feeling with our cause for Servant of God Brother Marinus. So, I lifted up intentions asking Servant of God Brother Marinus to intercede for our cause.

We are truly being blessed. Fr. Dennis Donavan, a Salesian priest and someone who met Brother Marinus at the Abbey bookstore, on his own initiative has prepared a wonderful audio/slide show. I have posted it to our YouTube page where other audio and video files are available. (https://www.youtube.com/@servantofgodbrothermarinus5897)

Recently, Fr. Dennis has had some health issues. Please pray our prayer for the cause of Servant of God Brother Marinus, and insert Fr. Dennis' healing as your request.

On the same note, please ask Servant to God Brother Marinus' intercessions for Sr. Bernadetta. Sr. Bernadetta was a teenager when she boarded the Meredith Victory. She later studied in Germany, became Catholic, and then later became a religious sister.

Jeon, Kyung-Ae wrote last month that she reached out to Sr. Bernadetta, and received a response from her community that her health is declining.

This is what Jeon wrote:

"I tried to contact Sister Bernadetta. The nuns said Sister Bernadetta is in the nursing hospital because of serious(dementia). And it is impossible to call her up nor meet her."

Fr. Sinclair Oubre, J.C.L., AFNI, KHS

Prayer for the Cause of

Servant of God Brother Marinus

           God, our Father, Creator of the seas, Protector of refugees, and all those in need,

           You called Captain Leonard LaRue to recognize Your Son Jesus Christ in the faces of the Korean refugees, and led him as Brother Marinus to a life of prayer and service in the tradition of St. Benedict. 

           May his life be an inspiration to us, and lead us to greater confidence in Your love so that we may continue his work of caring for the people of the sea, welcoming those who are refugees from war, and deepening all the faithful in their prayer and work of service.

           We humbly ask that You glorify Your servant Captain Leonard LaRue/Brother Marinus on earth according to the design of Your holy will, and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Through his intercession, grant the favor I now present (here make you request) Through Christ our Lord.

AMEN

Nihil Obstat: Rev. Stephen T. Prisk, S.T.L.

Censor Deputatus       Date: July 22, 2022

Imprimatur: The Most Reverend Kevin J. Sweeney, D.D.

Bishop of Paterson    Date: July 22, 2022

Decree Initiating Cause: + Arthur Serratelli, S.S.L., S.Th.D., D.D.

Bishop of Paterson    Date: March 25, 2019