World War II Honoree

Mitchell Michael Rahhal

Branch of Service

U.S. Merchant Marine

Hometown

Detroit, Michigan

Honored By

Abraham Rahhal

Relationship

Brother

STEWARDS MATE 2ND CLASS. SERVED ABOARD THE LIBERTY SHIP SS THOMAS CRESAP SAILING FROM NEW YORK HARBOR ON DECEMBER 23, 1944 TAKING 31 DAYS TO CROSS THE ATLANTIC IN MINE INFESTED WATERS. THE SHIP DOCKED IN FRANCE WHERE THEY UNLOADED THEIR CARGO AND PICKED UP 300 FREE FRENCH SOLDIERS WHO HAD BEEN CAPTURED BY THE GERMANS AND HAD BEEN IMPRISONED FOR 5 YEARS. THEY TRANSPORTED THEM TO ORAN, AFRICA AND HEADED BACK TO THE U.S. WHERE ON THE RETURN VOYAGE THE SS THOMAS CRESAP ENCOUNTERED A PROBLEM WITH ITS RUDDER. THE CONVOY THEY HAD BEEN TRAVELLING WITH CONTINUED ON WITHOUT THEM AND THEY WERE LEFT TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES IN THE OPEN SEA WHILE REPAIRS WERE BEING MADE. THEY ARRIVED SAFELY IN NEW YORK HARBOR ON FEBRUARY 10, 1945. FOR HAVING SAILED INTO THE TWO DANGER ZONES OF THE ATLANTIC OCEAN AND THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA, HE WAS AWARDED A SERVICE BAR FOR EACH ZONE.