He remains forever anchored in gratitude.
Nearly 20 years after Capt. Rich Phillips faced a life-threatening situation at the hands of Somali pirates off the coast of East Africa, he continues to express immense thanks towards his rescuers—the U.S. Armed Forces.
“I honestly thought I might not make it out alive,” said Phillips, now 70, reflecting on his distressing days of captivity in 2009 aboard a cramped lifeboat after four pirates seized control of his cargo ship, the Maersk Alabama.
“I owe the SEALs everything—just my entire life.”
The harrowing experience of Capt. Phillips inspired the 2013 film bearing his name, featuring Tom Hanks. He is set to deliver a special address at Huntington’s Oheka Castle for the annual gala supporting the Lt. Michael P. Murphy Navy SEAL Museum.
This prestigious event honors the late Medal of Honor recipient Lt. Michael P. Murphy, who was killed in action during the infamous 2005 “Lone Survivor” mission in Afghanistan, an event that also made its way to the big screen.
Phillips described his acceptance to speak at the gala as an obvious choice, especially after being invited by Murphy’s parents, Maureen and Dan.
“It was a straightforward ‘What do you need me to do? I’m there,’” said Phillips, who resides in Underhill, Vermont. “Then she mentioned it was a gala requiring a tuxedo—but I agreed without hesitation.”
The retired captain has remained outspoken about several military causes ever since his return to the U.S. However, the Navy’s elite SEAL team, which successfully eliminated the Somali pirates during his rescue, continues to hold profound significance in his life.
“I keep in contact with a group of eight to ten of them,” he said, referring to the heroes who rescued him on that Easter Sunday.
“Every Easter, I send them a thank-you message for the 17 years I would not have had if they hadn’t been there. I call them Titans—they’re not gods, just ordinary people doing extraordinary things.”
One aspect Phillips cherishes about attending SEAL events is witnessing the camaraderie among the families and fighters; “it’s something I wish we could replicate in the civilian world,” he added.
Retired Navy SEAL and author Marcus Luttrell, who was part of Murphy’s “Lone Survivor” mission, is also expected to attend the Long Island gala.
“I’m looking forward to meeting him,” Phillips remarked.
Calm Seas Ahead
Phillips noted that he has moved past the terror of his 2009 ordeal, choosing instead to think, “Why linger on the negative experiences?”
“Everyone faces crises in life—some minor, others life-changing,” he explained.
“It’s all about how you handle them,” said Phillips, who is comfortable with the way Hanks portrayed him in the dramatization.
He appreciates the way Hanks captured his New England accent in the tense drama illustrating the pirate takeover and Phillips’ ransom situation to secure his crew’s safety.
However, he expressed that Hollywood slightly embellished his relationship with the youngest pirate, depicted as a misguided youth.
Although Phillips initially warned the young man about the dangers of associating with the pirates, his sympathy did not extend beyond that.
“By the end of the four-and-a-half days on the lifeboat, I discovered he was the erratic one. He enjoyed sitting across from me, aiming his AK, and dry-firing it while grinning at me.”
Phillips recounted how, two days before his rescue on April 12, the group began staging mock executions, emphasizing he never developed Stockholm syndrome during his time on board.
“I didn’t believe I was going to escape, but I refused to die begging. I aimed to be strong and show them that I was a foe, not just a hostage.”
“Fortunately, I didn’t have to do much. I just stayed put, and the Navy SEALs handled everything else.”
