"One ship by itself is safer if its undiscovered. If its discovered, then its dead, because
it hasnt got any protection at all."(Audio Interview, 21:30)
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Richard Lee Newman
Richard L. Newman in Merchant Marine Uniform
War: World War, 1939-1945 Branch: Merchant Marine Unit: USNR-DM Service Location: Pacific; Atlantic; North Sea; Red Sea; English Channel Rank: Lieutenant Junior Grade Place of Birth: NY
As a member of the first class of the Merchant Marine Academy, Richard Newman
received a commission in the Naval Reserves, but the Navy persuaded him to stay with
the Merchant Marine. Applying his education in navigation and other skills, Newman
rose through the ranks on three long and memorable voyages. On his cadet voyage he had
to overcome a fear of tall ladders to stand watch in the crows nest. On his second outing,
he and a colleague had to cover for a drunken captain during complicated maneuvers, and
finally, he helped deliver supplies in support of the D-Day Invasion. In his 2002
interview, at a time when the U.S. was contemplating military action against Iraq,
Newman was eloquently defending the need for a professionally trained Merchant
Marine to deliver the goods.