In the Spring of 1994, in what was an epic eighth voyage, the SS Jeremiah O'Brien returned to England and France to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Operation Overlord’s D-Day — the Allied invasion that turned the tide of World War II in Europe.
She steamed through the Golden Gate headed south along the West Coast, through the Panama Canal and Caribbean, then back across the Atlantic. Her crew included 56 volunteers of an average age of 70 along with a few cadets from the California Maritime Academy. Their five-month, 18,000-mile journey was reported back home by crew member and San Francisco Chronicle correspondent, Carl Nolte.
An emotional four-week stay in Portsmouth and Southampton, England, included the welcoming aboard of the President of the United States and First Lady, Bill and Hilary Clinton. This was followed by a historic Naval review by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of England with the Clintons and French President, Francois Mitterrand, aboard Her Majesty’s royal yacht, Britannia.
On D-Day June 6th, the O’Brien dropped anchor at Point du Hoc to partake in the historic commemorative ceremonies and remained there for the night. Her D-Day journey included sailing past Utah and Omaha Beaches and a return to Britain up the Thames to visit both London and Chatham.
She visited Cherbourg before entering the Seine at Le Havre to join the Liberty Armada, L’Armada de la Liberté, where six million people from around the world lined the banks to pay tribute. Among the thousands of ships that formed the original Operation Overlord armada, the SS Jeremiah O’Brien was the only ship of size to return 50 years later to be honored on both sides of the English Channel.
Returning across the Atlantic to her birthplace at South Portland, Maine, she was enthusiastically greeted by many former New England Shipbuilding Corporation workers and Liberty Ship mariners. She had not returned since her launching in 1943.
The O'Brien made the entire voyage without the need for any repairs arriving ahead of schedule at each port. This was a tribute to the skill and dedication of the volunteers who restored, maintained, and sailed her, as well as a testimony to her sturdy design and construction. Five months later, she sailed back under the Golden Gate Bridge to a spectacular reception on September 23rd, 1994, which was proclaimed as SS Jeremiah O’Brien Day in San Francisco. Fifty years later, she had completed her 8th voyage.
Explore this Station's Gallery
Continue down the pier and go up the gangway to board the ship. At the top, immediately turn right and proceed forward where we’ll introduce you to an overview of the Main Deck.