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Small Victories

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 12, 2009

TAMPA - Four lifeboats, each weighing 4,500 pounds and stretching 20 feet, began their journeys to rejuvenation Wednesday morning as they gently were hoisted from their davits by a crane and placed on the deck of the SS American Victory.

There, they will be set upon by local members of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps who will sand the paint from the metal and wood and repaint it from stem to stern in battleship gray and safety orange.

"It's all part of regular maintenance," said Luke Palmer, a volunteer crew member of the historical transport ship, which was used during World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars to carry guns, gear, food and other essentials to fighting troops.

"This is a vintage 1945 ship," he said, "and these ships need maintenance."

Keith Morelli

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