Special Post: International Day of Peace

On this International Day of Peace, I honor the Seagoing Cowboys
who helped usher in peace after World War II.

A seagoing cowboy reflects on visiting the memorial being built where the first shots of World War II had been fired. Gdansk, Poland, July 1946. Photo by Charles Shenk.

Seagoing cowboy Guy Buch, fluent in German, is being interviewed by German media. Buch was part of a special crew of Church of the Brethren seminary and college students intent on having dialogue with German Christians. Bremen, West Germany, July 1946. Photo courtesy of Guy Buch.

Another special crew tested whether black and white seagoing cowboys could work together on the same ship. The cowboys pray together on their return from Poland to the United States. July 1946. Photo by Ben Kaneda.

On this International Day of Peace,
I also honor the Brethren Service Committee and the Heifer Project
whose mission it was to build peace in a war-torn world.

Seagoing cowboy Martin Strate shakes the hand of a Japanese official after a ceremony to celebrate Heifer Project’s shipment of 25 bulls to Japan, May 1947. Photo by Norman Hostetler.

A “Campaign for Peace Action” brochure of the Church of the Brethren Peace Education Department, circa late 1940s. Courtesy of Heifer International archives.

May peace prevail in these troubled times.

~ Peggy Reiff Miller

 

In Memorium

It’s a fifth Friday again and time to remember those seagoing cowboys who have departed from us of late. These are the ones of whom I’m aware:

Buch, Guy Richard, July 4, 2018, North Manchester, IN. S. S. Queens Victory to  Czechoslovakia via Germany, June 9, 1946.

Frailey, Henry E., August 5, 2018, Lancaster, PA. S. S. John L. McCarley to Poland, July 2, 1946.

Kesler, Donn D., August 13, 2018, North Manchester, IN. S. S. Lindenwood Victory to China and New Zealand, December 19, 1946.

Leach, Rev. Robert Harris, July 25, 2018, Columbia, MO. S. S. Contest to Japan, July 3, 1948.

Meyer, Matthew M., August 27, 2018, Geneva, IL. S. S. Queens Victory to Czechoslovakia via Germany, June 9, 1946; S. S. Cedar Rapids Victory to Yugoslavia via Trieste, Italy, July 10, 1946.

Meyer, Vernon R., May 21, 2018, Wooster, OH. S. S. Gainesville Victory to Poland, July 24, 1946.

Miller, Clyde R., November 19, 2017, Eureka, IL. S. S. Norwalk Victory to Poland, January 5, 1947.

Rediger, Ferman, July 7, 2018, Friend, NE. S. S. F. J. Luckenbach to Poland, March 23, 1946.

Tobias, Richard, July 4, 2018, Tallmadge, OH. S. S. American Importer to Germany, September 1, 1956.