Joe Pitts: “60 years ago, on September 27, 1942, Midshipman Edwin Joseph O'Hara saw two enemy surface raiders suddenly appear out of…”

“60 years ago, on September 27, 1942, Midshipman Edwin Joseph O'Hara saw two enemy surface raiders suddenly appear out of the morning mist to attack the vessel he was on. Heavy guns of one raider pounded his ship, and machine guns fired from the other, spraying the decks for one-half hour at close quarters. The heroic gun crew of O'Hara's ship exchanged shot for shot with the enemy, placing 35 shells into the waterline of one of the raiders, until its crew was forced to abandon their sinking ship. All of the gun crew were killed or wounded when an enemy shell exploded the magazine of their gun. At the explosion, Midshipman O'Hara ran aft and single-handedly served and fired the damaged gun with five live shells remaining in the ready box, scoring direct hits near the waterline of the second raider. O'Hara was mortally wounded in this action. With boilers blown up, engines destroyed, masts shot away, and ablaze from stem to stern, the ship finally went under, carrying O'Hara and several of his shipmates with her. O'Hara was awarded the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal for his bravery, bravery we should never forget.”