"One ship by itself is safer if it’s undiscovered. If it’s discovered, then it’s dead, because it hasn’t got any protection at all."(Audio Interview, 21:30)

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 crow’s 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.