Legendary labor activist Cesar Chavez's legacy continues to thrive both in life and in death, even reaching international waters as part of the American effort in the search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370.

According Naval Today, the U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet supply ship, the USNS Cesar Chavez (T-AKE 14) joined an international task force led by Australian Defense Force searching for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 off the Western Coast of Australia on April 12.

"The U.S. 7th Fleet deployed Chavez in response to a formal Joint Operations Command request to the U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) for tanker support. Deployment of the Dry cargo/ammunition ship speaks to the U.S. Navy's enduring commitment to allies and partners in the Asia-Pacific region, and the ability to respond rapidly where it matters, when it matters.

"Although a crisis has brought us to these waters, the team aboard Chavez is standing by and proud to support such a vital mission," Chavez's civil service master Capt. Rollin Bellfi told Naval Today.

The 689 foot Chavez, operated by the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command (MSC), provides underway replenishment of dry cargo, fuel, and ammunition to U.S. and coalition naval ships operating at sea.

Before he became an iconic labor leader and activist, Cesar Chavez joined the Navy at the young age of 17, where he went on to serve two years. According to the United Farm Workers of America. It was a tough experience for the impressionable Mexican-American. While serving he faced "discrimination" and "strict regimentation," which most likely helped fuel his drive to fight for human rights and justice for migrant workers.

Despite Chavez's initial negative association with the Navy, it still honored him as a leader and pioneer by officially naming it the USNS Cesar Chavez.

According to the Cesar Chavez Foundation, in 2012 "thousands also witnessed the Christening and launching into San Diego Bay of USNS Cesar Chavez, the Navy's latest 700-foot-long Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship, the first U.S. naval vessel named for a Latino. On Oct. 8, 2012, President Obama traveled to the National Chavez Center in Keene and before a crowd of 7,000 dedicated a small portion of the 187-acre property as the Cesar E. Chavez National Monument -- the 398th unit of the National Park Service and the first to recognize a modern-day Latino. Telling Cesar's story is now part of the park service's mission of telling the story of America."

"It's been 21 years since he's passed away, and there have been a lot of commemorations throughout the years -- streets, parks, libraries and holidays. There was a naval ship and national park -- President Obama came to where my father lived and worked and where he was buried to establish the 398th National Parks Service. Last week, I got a call from the city of Tuscon, AZ to establish another city holiday," Paul Chavez, who is also the President and Chairman of the Cesar Chavez Foundation, told the Latin Post in an earlier interview.

"So commemorations keep on coming and the fact is that my father would be kind of embarrassed by all of this, even by this movie (Cesar Chavez) I think. Because he felt that there was so much work to be done and that there would be more important things to be doing. But also he understood that there were so many people who made tremendous sacrifices against great odds whose names were lost in history."

To echo his sentiments, the USNS Cesar Chavez is trying to help those who are still lost on the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, making a point that every person matters and that no one should be forgotten.

"Cesar Chavez inspired young Americans to do what is right and what is necessary to protect our freedoms and our country," Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus in an official statement released when the ship was officially named. "The Cesar Chavez will sail hundreds of thousands of miles and will bring support and assistance to thousands upon thousands of people. His example will live on in this great ship."