A different kind of victory at sea

In a lonely expanse of the South Atlantic nearly 66 years ago, first assistant engineer Charles Fitzgerald went down with his ship, the steamer Stephen Hopkins. The Hopkins, bound from South Africa to Brazil, was intercepted and sunk by the German raider Stier, but not before the under-gunned Liberty ship inflicted so much damage on the Stier that its captain was forced to scuttle his own ship.

It was a high-water mark in the history of the U.S. Merchant Marine.

So it was my honor to escort Fitzgerald's daughter, Jean Dierkes-Carlisle, to the 65th anniversary celebration of the launching of the last fully operational Liberty ship, Jeremiah O'Brien, Tuesday night at Pier 45.

The evening, which featured a soon-to-be-released History Channel film about the O'Brien, part of its "Hero Ships" series, was meant not only to commemorate the anniversary, but to remember the 30,000 Allied merchant seamen like Fitzgerald who lost their lives in the pivotal Battle of the Atlantic.

Well, it was all that, but it was more.

As we stood in the O'Brien's gift shop following the film, Jean was approached by a man she didn't recognize, but who clearly recognized her. It took a minute or two for things to register. When it did, we couldn't have been more surprised if we had been hit amidships by a torpedo from a prowling U-boat.

It was Patrick Fitzgerald, the brother Jean hadn't seen in 21 years.

Both had come to the O'Brien for the sake of a man who could only be a dim memory to either of them now, and neither had expected this. It was awkward and it was touching and I'm very glad I was there to share in the moment.

As we rush headlong into a white-gray technocratic future devoid of emotion, I'm grateful for moments like these that remind us, after all, that we are only flesh and blood.

The week-long celebration of the O'Brien's anniversary continues Thursday with an open house. They'll be raising steam and her engine room will be open for tours. On Saturday, she'll weigh anchor and steam around the Bay from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can arrange to be on board by going to the O'Brien website.
Topics: Jeremiah O'Brien