Life after death:
HERMITAGE in Brazil
NDD CEARA (G-30), former USS HERMITAGE (LSD-34).
Photo courtesy of Michael Flanagan.
After 33 years of service, HERMITAGE was decommissioned in 1988 and transfered to Brazil, where it has served as the NDD Ceara (G-30).
Great ships never die. In December 2006, Captain Michael Flanagan, USNR, sailed on the former HERMITAGE. Flanagan was working for the Naval Mission at the U.S. embassy in Brasilia. His outbrief was with the Assistant Naval Attache in Rio de Janeiro. Flanagan was a visiting O6 on the Brazilian Navy command ship. He was observing the Brazilian Navy's semi-annual amphibious assault exercises. The Ceara was operating about 500 kilometers north of Rio on the Brazilian coast. This area is their equivalent of Onslow, North Carolina.
The Ceara has been used for United Nations operations, transporting army and marines (fusseliers in Portuguese) to Angola and Mozambique.
Flanagan explained, "From what I could understand, the UN uses the Brazilians in areas where Portuguese is spoken (former Portuguese colonies like Mozambique and Angola). The UN recognizes Brazil's diversity. There are a variety of ethnic backgrounds and colors in any Brazilian unit which makes for a better mix on UN missions. Did you know that the largest Japanese expatriot community in the world is in Brazil?"
Following is Mike’s email to Quarter Deck, dated 21 December 2006:
She has been involved in Angola UN ops, Mozambique UN ops and Haiti UN Ops. In January she is heading to Northern Brazil for work up there. That trip is about 2000 miles one way. Brazil is one huge country.
As far as I go....I enlisted in the Navy in 1976 specifically to be a Quartermaster with the intent to use the training to become a Merchant Marine Officer. I spent my entire enlisted time on the USS Plymouth Rock (LSD 29). Less than a month after getting out in 1980, When I got out, I joined a Military Sealift Command ship in Little Creek. When I made third mate (like Ensign or JG) I applied for a commission in one of the smaller programs in the Navy, the Merchant Marine Reserve Program. I am one of less than 5 per cent who are up through the ranks (Mustang). I received my commission at 34 and made Captain last year at the age of 56. I also sail Captain (Civilian) for military sealift command.
I was asked by a friend in the Reserve to do this job in Brazil but did not know I would be on LSD 34. The Brazilians were amazed at how well I knew the ship. She is in good shape but it is very obvious she is old. Not tired....just old.
Here are some pics.
Merry Christmas to all the Herm Guys...
Mike
NDD RIO DE JANEIRO (G-31), former USS ALAMO (LSD-33).
Photo courtesy of Michael Flanagan.
A native of Rockland, Maine, Flanagan lives in Thomaston, Maine. Where else? The HERMITAGE was an LSD of the Thomaston class. In an email dated 22 December 2006, Flanagan said,
My civilian work is as a Master with Military Sealift Command. Two years ago I was the Chief Mate (XO) on the hospital ship Mercy after the Tsunami. The Navy and especially BUMED hopes to run a joint exercise with the Brazilian hospital ships. I really got into briefing that to the 2 star assigned to the Amphib op. A lot of these guys have done time training in the States so they know how we do business. As with most things you can't beat face to face interaction amongs operators.
"Glad to help you here...I would not have squat if I had not joined the Navy all those years ago. At the time I thought it might have been a mistake but now I see how much it has done for me.
Bon Natal as they say in Rio
Mike
You are welcome to email Mike at flanme3@gmail.com
