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Richard Phillips

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Hero

The Resume

    (May 16, 1955- )
    Born in Winchester, Massachusetts
    Captain of the MV Maersk Alabama during its hijacking by Somali pirates (April, 2009)
    Recounted the hostage situation in the book ' A Captain's Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALS, and Dangerous Days at Sea'
    Book served as the basis for the film 'Captain Phillips' (2013)
    Portrayed in the film by Tom Hanks

Why he might be annoying:

    His name sound very generic.
    He ignored a NATO advisory that ships remain at least 600 nautical miles from the Somali coast.
    He said 'I don't believe 600 miles would make you safe. I didn't believe 1,200 miles would make you safe. As I told the crew, it would be a matter of when, not if... We were always in this area.'
    After the release of the film 'Captain Phillips,' several Maersk Alabama crew members disputed the film's portrayal of him as a hero.

Why he might not be annoying:

    His ship's cargo included 5,000 metric tons of relief supplies for Somalia, Kenya and Uganda.
    His crew overpowered one of the pirates and tried to exchange him for Phillips.
    The pirates reneged and held Phillips captive in a lifeboat for five days.
    After a three-day standoff, Navy Seal snipers killed the three pirates in the lifeboat (April 12).
    He was featured in Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2009 with a tribute written by fellow hero Chesley B. Sullenberger III.

Credit: Birdienest81


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 4 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 7 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 14 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 12 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 16 Votes: 50.0% Annoying