World War II Honoree

Claude A. 'Scotty' Welch

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Huntington Woods, Michigan

Honored By

Mary Anna Welch

Relationship

Wife

TECHNICIAN FIFTH GRADE. STATIONED IN FRANCE. WAS ABOARD THE SS LEOPOLDVILLE TROOP SHIP ON THE SINKING AFTER IT WAS TORPEDOED BY A GERMAN SUBMARINE ABOUT 6:00 P.M. ON DECEMBER 24, 1944. THIS WAS IN THE ENGLISH CHANNEL, JUST FIVE MILES FROM CHERBOURG, FRANCE. WAS ABLE TO SWING OUT ON A ROPE AND LAND ON THE BRITISH DESTROYER H.M.S. BRILLIANT. ABOUT 800 PEOPLE DIED OUT OF THE 2200 ON THE SHIP. STATIONED IN FRANCE FOR THE REST OF THE WAR, GUARDING A GERMAN SUBMARINE PEN.