The SS Meredith Victory was a United States Merchant MarineVictory ship, a type of cargo freighter built for World War II. Under the leadership of Captain Leonard LaRue, Meredith Victory is credited with the largest humanitarian rescue operation by a single ship,[4] evacuating more than 14,000 refugees in a single trip during the Korean War. The vessel has often been described as the "Ship of Miracles" as it was designed to carry only 12 passengers with a 47-person crew.[5]
On December 20, after arriving at the port of Hungnam, U.S. army colonels went on board and explained the current grave situation and proposed rescue of refugees. Captain Leonard LaRue decided to evacuate as many refugees as possible. Boarding went on from the afternoon of December 22 until the next morning.[7] Using booms and makeshift elevators, the crew filled the five cargo holds and the entire main deck. Although the ship was built to accommodate only 12 passengers, besides the crew and staff, more than 14,000 Korean civilians were crammed aboard. Meredith Victory departed shortly after 11 am on December 23 for Pusan, about 450 nautical miles (830 km; 520 mi) away,[8] as bombardment from UNC ships and explosives destroyed the port to deny its use to the enemy. The ship had no escort or means of self-defense.[8]
I think often of that voyage. I think of how such a small vessel was able to hold so many persons and surmount endless perils without harm to a soul. And, as I think, 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.
Despite the fact that the refugees were "packed like sardines in a can" and most had to remain standing up, shoulder-to-shoulder, in freezing weather conditions during the entire voyage, there were no injuries or casualties on board. There was very little food or water, and the people were virtually unable to move. J. Robert Lunney, Staff Officer on the ship and a navy veteran of World War II, stated:
There's no explanation for why the Korean people, as stoic as they are, were able to stand virtually motionless and in silence. We were impressed by the conduct of the refugees, despite their desperate plight. We were touched by it.
First Mate D.S. Savastio, who only had first aid training, delivered five babies during the three-day passage to safety. The ship arrived in Pusan on Christmas Eve, but no one was allowed off except a few wounded and those identified as communist sympathizers.[8]Meredith Victory had to travel another 50 miles (80 km) to Geoje Island before it could debark its passengers on December 26.[8]
Captain LaRue remained in command until the ship was decommissioned in 1952.[7] He left the sea and became a Benedictine monk of Newtown Abbey, New Jersey. On March 25, 2019, Bishop Arthur Serratelli, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson opened the canonization cause for LaRue, known as Brother Marinus, OSB.[11]
After the Korean War, the ship sat in the harbor of Bremerton, Washington, as part of the "mothball fleet" until it was put back in service in 1966 for some missions during the Vietnam War, for which she was converted to a troop ship.
In 1973, the ship was laid up in Suisun Bay. In 1993, it was towed to China and scrapped.[12]
