Bob Joyce had nearly retired and was looking forward to spending time at his home in Toms River, N.J., when he got the call to help staff a ship carrying war equipment to the Persian Gulf for the war in Iraq.

Proud patriot: Seafarer Bob Joyce delayed his retirement to help deliver war materiel to U.S. troops in the Persian Gulf.

Joyce, 66, a 12-year member of the Seafarers union, readily delayed his retirement to work as a seaman on the 700-foot, 53,000-ton vessel Cape Wrath. The vessel carries thousands of motorized vehicles such as tanks and trucks.

Joyce is among more than 4,000 members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Longshoremen, Masters, Mates & Pilots, Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association and SIU who are loading and transporting equipment, supplies, ammunition and materiel to support the troops in the Persian Gulf.

Programs such as the U.S. Navy’s Ready Reserve Force provide such ships as the Cape Wrath for service in times of war or national emergency. When they are activated, the vessels are placed under the direction of the federal Military Sealift Command.

Minutes before his vessel took off for the Persian Gulf, Joyce talked about his motivation for joining the fleet.

"I volunteered because I’m patriotic and I try to be a good American and a good Seafarers’ member,” he says. “I think the same is true of a lot of other people aboard this ship and on our other ships.”

Joyce sailed on three different ships transporting military supplies during the first Persian Gulf war in 1990–1991.

"I’m proud to have sailed during Desert Storm and in this conflict. The merchant mariner is a major part of our nation’s defense and I’m proud to be a part of it and to do what I can for my country.”