Saturday, September 14, 2013

Mark R Jurisich and Dr. John R Bryan, Have No Respect For Historic CG Cutter Storis

US Metals Recovery owners Mark Jurisich and John Bryan -
Don't see history with CGC Storis... Only money 


US Metals Recovery, LLC is technically the owner of the former Coast Guard Cutter Storis. She is one of the most reliable ships the US Military has ever had serving for the United States and last year the Storis was acknowledged for her 64+ years of service when she was added to the National Registry Of Historic Places. She was the first ship to successfully circumnavigate the north American Continent back in 1957. The Storis is a piece of US History and to thousands of people who have been associated with her over the last seven decades, she is also a treasure.

However, in June of 2013, after looking like she would become a museum in Toledo, Ohio where she was built in 1942, the GSA dropped the ball and put her up for sale in an auction.
She was bought by a company called US Metals Recovery of San Diego.

There are 2 people who are listed as owners of US Metals Recovery, LLC. 
The first one was not born in the US and has no regard for any history associated with the Storis. The New Zeland/Australian natives name is Mark R Jurisich of San Diego. 

The second owner has not taken an active role thus far with the Storis and from what I have found out about him and his status in his community, it would make sense for him to want to distance himself from his partner, Jurisich. According to his resume and bio, Dr. John R Bryan of San Diego portrays himself to be something of a modern day All-American citizen. "Dr. Bryan has been the Chair of the Board of Alliance for African Assistance since 2004 and of the Alliance Health Clinic since 2009. Since 2010, he has been Membership Chair of the San Diego Chapter of the Institute of Management Consultants." and has an ownership stake in several businesses while claiming his main business is being a mentor to new business owners

However, in the case of one such business that he is part owner of, US Metals Recovery, it is not clear at all what the company actually does. The company has no website. No working phone number. No physical address other than a PO Box at a hotel. No employee's. No indication that the company has done any business with anyone in the 3+ years since the company was formed. For a 3 year old company with such a solid, established businessman as Bryan to be involved with, one might expect that company to have some sort of history of business dealings. Something. Anything. But, US Metals Recovery appears to be a company in name only or merely a "shell" that was set up to serve another purpose. 

Since June of this year after they bought the Storis, the sole purpose appears to be attempting to make a massive profit by holding the Storis as a hostage, threatening the Storis Museum non-profit group to have the ship made into scrap metal unless, of course their ransom demand of $250,000 is paid. There is a term used to describe people who take advantage of other peoples emotional attachments and only see how they might profit using a piece of treasured US history that was used to save so many lives... That term is BOTTOM FEEDER. 
Anyone who shows such disregard for something as historically significant as the Storis and all who support her are just that... Bottom Feeders. 

In light of all the "injustices" that these two men have bestowed upon the Storis, I wish there was a way that they could face justice for their actions by having them "walk the plank."
They would be two people the Coast Guard Cutter Storis would not be expected to rescue. Since that fantasy scenario won't happen, the Storis faithful continue on with their attempts to rescue the Storis. THAT is one cause fully worth rescuing.

2 comments:

  1. I search for Bryan on the chamber web sight and could not find him.they bought the ship because the GSA let them history for sale!
    Out more fault on the GSA for not following there own rules.
    g Keaney uscg ret

    ReplyDelete
  2. @ Anon 12:03 PM,
    You are correct with what you pointed out with his not being listed w the chamber website. I misread his bio and have corrected the mistake. Here is a link to the page I was referencing:
    http://www.gcu.edu/faculty-bio.php?fid=A87C84E8-2AE9-E011-ABCE-E41F13687584

    With your GSA comment... I would love to do exactly that. However, I have had less than 2 weeks to conduct my research and I have been spending time on other day to day things in addition to researching the owners.
    However, with the GSA and any other government entity I would be limited to looking into the people that were listed on the auction page for the Storis and they have already told inquiring politicians that they acted within their means and did not violate anything. Do I accept that? No. I think the GSA has and continues to drop the ball and I will have things to say in future posts about that. The main reason I chose to put my efforts into the current owners is because of that fact... They are the the current owners and trying to get the GSA to admit they made mistakes would be a waste of time. Since they don't own the ship now... There isn't much they could do even if they wanted to. They are much like the federal government in that they do what they please and somehow are not held accountable in the end.

    ReplyDelete