In late December of 1950, an American Maritime Merchant vessel under the command of Captain Lenard LaRue, along with his valiant crew, sailed their ship, the SS Meredith Victory, to Korea’s Hungnam Harbor. The ship was named after Meredith College, a small women’s college in Raleigh.
An “all call” for ships had been sent asking vessels to come immediately to aide in the rescue effort of thousands of stranded North Koreans fleeing south to escape the horrors of invasion of the advancing Chinese and North Korean communist forces. United Nations forces had been overwhelmed, and the situation was dire. Millions of Koreans had fled south. Sea going ships responded from many sectors to heed the rescue request.
Captain La Rue commented years later on the scene he witnessed on arrival. “I saw a pitiable sight. Korean refugees thronged the docks. With them was everything they could wheel, carry or drag. Beside them, like frightened chicks, were their children.”
The Meredith Victory faced 450 sea miles in its rescue route… sailing with no medical supplies, no doctor, no interpreter and communist submarines lurking in the waters as they escaped to South Korea.
What it did have onboard was 300 tons of aviation fuel in metal drums in the ship’s lower hold.
Add to this scenario the fact that for 30 miles the sea was heavily mined and the Meredith Victory had no way to detect or destroy them should they block their route. Slowly the ship moved ahead — adding two extra days to a trip — with the final journey ending after four days.
The ship, usually manned by about 47 people, had no choice but to pack the cargo holds — deck after deck — with their human cargo. With barely enough room to stand, these stoic refugees were lowered down below — again and again — until the ship was full and ready to leave port.
Slowly the ship traversed freezing ocean waters. The rescue escape was slowed greatly due to many dangerous circumstances. Cold, hunger, and a lack of water would abound during the four days at sea. Many crew members marveled later about the Korean’s enduring calmness that resonated consistently throughout the ship and the stoic character of these individuals despite their pain and suffering.
Amazingly, not a single passenger died en route. And, born at sea, five new lives came into the world. Little did the Meredith’s crew fully realize the impact of this miraculous undertaking and that their ship, along with others, would save thousands of souls — and in its successful mission, help to change the future “Republic of South Korea” for years to come…
But miracles do happen.
They reached their destination safely on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 1950, and disembarked 14,005 passengers on Koje Do Island. It is estimated that through this combined effort more than a million Koreans are living today.
Captain LaRue answered the call… “Here I am Lord, send me.”
This event was and remains today, the largest rescue effort by a single ship in the history of mankind.
Captain LaRue reflected on the eventful voyage years later: “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… The clear unmistakable message comes to me that on that Christmastide, in the bleak and bitter waters off the shore of Korea, God’s own hand was at the helm of my ship.”
After his retirement, the ship’s captain became a Benedictine monk — and joined Saint Paul Newton Abbey in New Jersey. He lived to be 87 years old.
At this writing, because of this maritime event and other miracles associated with him, Captain LaRue — Brother Marinus — has been nominated for sainthood.
Post script: A personal note from the author Karen Hayes Rotterman
The Korean War, in which thousands of Americans fought, is sadly one of the least remembered engagements of the United States military forces.
My uncle, the late Dewitt Rhoades, was a chief gunner on a USAF B-29 Bomber, completing 22 missions in the Korean War and luckily lived to continue working for his fellow citizens until his death in Winston Salem.
His son, Master Sergeant Greg Rhoades (USAF retired), served in Korea and met his lovely wife Kyo Sun while stationed there. Kyo Sun’s great grandmother, Bok Duk No fled by foot with her family to South Korea, bringing her nine-year-old granddaughter with her.
Kyo Sun’s great grandmother’s sister Jungsook Roh and her family were aboard the Meredith Victory, and she was the young midwife who delivered baby No. 5.