April 11 (Reuters) - American ship captain Richard Phillips is being held hostage on a lifeboat by Somali pirates in a face-off with the U.S. Navy in the Indian Ocean.
Following are some facts about the merchant seaman:
* Phillips, aged 53, grew up in Winchester, Massachusetts, where his father coached high school basketball. He lives in Underhill, in rural Vermont.
* Married since 1987 to Andrea Coggio, an emergency room nurse he met in Boston. Have two college-age children, Mariah and Danny.
* Drove a cab in Boston to pay his way through college at the University of Massachusetts and later at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, where he graduated in 1979.
* Phillips played the saxophone in his high school band, and still plays the instrument from time to time. He listens to the blues. His favorite: blues singer Taj Mahal.
* Plays pickup basketball at the local YMCA, and golfs with a group of retirees. Supports Boston sports teams, particularly the Celtics basketball team.
Source: New York Times.
(Compiled by World Desk, Washington +1 202-898-8457)
Keywords: SOMALIA PIRACY/CAPTAIN
COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
Following are some facts about the merchant seaman:
* Phillips, aged 53, grew up in Winchester, Massachusetts, where his father coached high school basketball. He lives in Underhill, in rural Vermont.
* Married since 1987 to Andrea Coggio, an emergency room nurse he met in Boston. Have two college-age children, Mariah and Danny.
* Drove a cab in Boston to pay his way through college at the University of Massachusetts and later at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, where he graduated in 1979.
* Phillips played the saxophone in his high school band, and still plays the instrument from time to time. He listens to the blues. His favorite: blues singer Taj Mahal.
* Plays pickup basketball at the local YMCA, and golfs with a group of retirees. Supports Boston sports teams, particularly the Celtics basketball team.
Source: New York Times.
(Compiled by World Desk, Washington +1 202-898-8457)
Keywords: SOMALIA PIRACY/CAPTAIN
COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.