Synopses & Reviews
"I share the country's admiration for the bravery of Captain Phillips and his selfless concern for his crew. His courage is a model for all Americans."
--President Barack Obama
It was just another day on the job for fifty-three-year-old Richard Phillips, captain of the Maersk Alabama, the United States-flagged cargo ship which was carrying, among other things, food and agricultural materials for the World Food Program. That all changed when armed Somali pirates boarded the ship. The pirates didn't expect the crew to fight back, nor did they expect Captain Phillips to offer himself as hostage in exchange for the safety of his crew. Thus began the tense five-day stand-off, which ended in a daring high-seas rescue when U.S. Navy SEALs opened fire and picked off three of the captors.
"It never ends like this," Captain Phillips said.
And he's right.
A Captain's Duty tells the life-and-death drama of the Vermont native who was held captive on a tiny lifeboat off Somalia's anarchic, gun-plagued shores. A story of adventure and courage, it provides the intimate details of this high-seas hostage-taking--the unbearable heat, the death threats, the mock executions, and the escape attempt. When the pirates boarded his ship, Captain Phillips put his experience into action, doing everything he could to safeguard his crew. And when he was held captive by the pirates, he marshaled all his resources to ensure his own survival, withstanding intense physical hardship and an escalating battle of wills with the pirates. This was it: the moment where training meets instinct and where character is everything. Richard Phillips was ready.
Synopsis
Captain Richard Phillips knew the pirates were dangerous. And yet, it was originally just another day on the job for the fifty-three-uear old captain of the Maersk Alabama, the United States-flagged cargo ship that was carrying food and other agricultural materials for the World Food Program. That all changed when armed Somali pirates boarded the ship. But they didn't expect the sailors to fight back nor did they plan for Captain Phillips to end up as a hostage in the stead of his ship and crew, and ultimately, they didn't bargain on the tough-as-nails everyman they took on board their tiny craft. After the tense fie-day stand-off-including mock executions, deadly heat, and an escalating battle of wills-ended in a daring high-seas rescue, Captain Phillips said, It never ends like this. And he's right.
Untitled tells the dramatic life-and-death tale of the Vermont native who, in April of 2008, was held captive on a tiny lifeboat off Somalia's anarchic, gun-plagued shores.
Synopsis
It was just another day on the job for Phillips, captain of the "Maersk Alabama." That all changed when armed Somali pirates boarded the ship. "A Captain's Duty" tells the dramatic life-and-death tale of Phillips' captivity and his daring escape.
About the Author
Captain Richard Phillips grew up in Underhill VT, with seven brothers and sisters. He married Andrea Coggio in 1988--she is an emergency room nurse--and together they have two children. Phillips is a 1979 graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy and became captain of the MV Maersk Alabama in 2009.