World War II Honoree

Donald W. Chilson

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Detroit, Michigan

Honored By

John J. Graf

Relationship

Friend

APPOINTED CADET-MIDSHIPMAN; U.S. NAVAL RESERVE. ASSIGNED TO U.S. MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY AND STUDIED AS AN ENGINEERING CADET. ASSIGNED TO THE BATTLESHIP USS TEXAS AND THEN PROMOTED TO LIEUTENANT COMMANDER ON USS STANFORD. RAN 6 CONVOYS THROUGH THE NORTH ATLANTIC. HIS SHIP WAS TORPEDOED AND SUNK. RESCUED FROM A LIFE RAFT BY A SEAGOING TUG FLYING THE BRITISH COLORS. WHILE NEARING THE BRITISH COAST, THE FLAG WAS STRUCK BY A GERMAN SEAGOING TUG AND HE BECAME A PRISONER OF WAR AT STALAG 9, NEAR BERLIN. HE WAS EXCHANGED BY THE RUSSIANS AND SENT HOME TO RECUPERATE.