Minnesota Merchant Marine veteran receives medal for WWII heroism
Fox News
A Minnesota Merchant Marine has received a medal for his World War II heroism, decades after he helped achieve a masterful rescue under difficult circumstances.
Carlson was 17 when he joined the Navy Armed Guard during the war. Assigned to protect supply convoys heading to Europe, he was aboard the SS City of New York when a German U-boat struck it with torpedoes off Cape Hatteras in North Carolina. Carlson fought off enemy combatants with constant gunfire as the ship sank; then he swam to a lifeboat, which he helped navigate for 16 days.More Related News