PHARSALIA – It is not uncommon for actual events to influence Hollywood filmmakers. Once a factual event is transformed into a motion picture, there becomes an opportunity for those interested in the story to watch it unfold on the big screen.
For Pharsalia resident Eric Brown, watching a film wasn't where his adventure began.
Said Brown, “I was on board the ship that saved Captain Phillips.”
Brown enlisted in the US Navy and deployed to the Mediterranean Sea in 2009.
Brown was an active duty member of the Navy and served as a SONAR operator on board the USS Bainbridge, a military vessel instrumental in rescuing Captain Richard Phillips – the man in charge of the Merchant Vessel Maersk Alabama. The Maersk Alabama was hijacked by Somali pirates in April of 2009 and the incident garnered global attention.
It was on April 7, 2009 when the US Maritime Administration released a Somalia Gulf of Aden advisory to all seafarers, recommending ships to remain distant from the coast of Somalia. The following day, four Somali pirates made their way on board the Maersk Alabama as it was en route to Kenya and was approximately 280 miles from a Somalian port.
Once the pirates boarded the ship, they attempted to take control; but due to actions of the 20 member crew, they were unsuccessful. They opted to leave the ship with the captain – Phillips, who Brown said gave himself up – and took him hostage on the vessel's covered lifeboat. The lifeboat had enough rations and provisions for ten days.
It was that same day, April 8, that the USS Bainbridge received word of a hostage situation and was dispatched to the area. It was on April 9 when the military vessel arrived, and a standoff began in an attempt to rescue Captain Phillips alive.
“It was very gut-wrenching,” admitted Brown. “But on the other hand, it was just a typical day for us. We were used to boarding ships and inspecting them.”
Brown explained the training known within the military as VBSS – visit, board, search and seizure. These are tactics used by the Navy to combat piracy and he said it was not uncommon to board numerous ships from various countries.
“This was a US ship,” he said. “So the media was all about this one. My mom knew more about it than I did.”
The standoff with the pirates lasted until April 12, when Navy marksmen opened fire and killed the pirates holding Phillips on the lifeboat. Phillips was not harmed and was brought on board the USS Bainbridge.
“He was on my ship for four or five days,” said Brown. With regard to Phillips demeanor, Brown added, “You know, he's a normal guy, pretty cool, but normal.”
Brown stated one of the most memorable parts of the ordeal for him on a personal level was the interaction with the Navy SEALS.
“When they're on board our ship … you know it's a serious event,” Brown said.
Brown was 20 years old when this incident occurred. It was his first of two seven-month deployments in the Somali Basin. The second was in 2011. In 2011, Brown left active duty and now resides in Pharsalia and is a reservist.
On Oct. 11 of this year, the major motion picture “Captain Phillips” hit theaters, with actor Tom Hanks taking the title role.
The company that owned the Maersk Alabama put on a special screening of the film in Norfolk, Virginia.
“Captain Phillips was there with his family, along with the entire crew of the Bainbridge. I got to see everyone again, it was great,” he said. “My girlfriend and I went down and it was really a once in a lifetime experience.”
While Brown cannot speak on the accuracy of the film from the point of view of Captain Phillips, he did attest the motion picture was rather accurate from his point of view – that of the USS Bainbridge.
“I've seen it four times,” he added jovially.
Concluded Brown, “While we did do this and it has received a lot of attention, we did more than just that. We saved numerous amounts of people from pirates in the Somali Basin, and I think that's important.”