Charles Dillum of the Armed Guard - WWII

Meeting Charles was the high point of the trip.  He sailed on the Wagstill Avery - 3 cruises in the North Atlantic.  His battle station was the 20mm port gun on the flying bridge. 

He told the story of being awakened to General Quarters and hauling himself up the ladder to his station.  When he looked at the convoy he saw 7 ships sinking.  He didn't even notice that he had ripped most of the flesh off of one shin on the way up the ladder until after the attack was over.

He also told the story of a fellow sailor who liked to sleep on the flag locker and expected Charles to wake him up if they were attacked or an officer came by.  He put up with that for a while and then said no more.