Branch of Service
U.S. Navy
Hometown
Indianapolis, Indiana
Honored By
Survivors of the USS Block Island CVE 21
HE SERVED ON THE USS AHRENS DE-575 AS A GUNNERS MATE SECOND CLASS. THE AHRENS JOINED TASK GROUP (TG) 21.11, A HUNTER/KILLER GROUP BUILT AROUND THE USS BLOCK ISLAND CVE-21. ON MAY 29, THE GERMAN SUBMARINE, U-549 TORPEDOED AND SANK THE 21 IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN. AHRENS RESCUED 673 OFFICERS AND MEN IN A PERIOD OF 40 MINUTES. WHILE CARRYING OUT RESCUE OPERATIONS, THE SHIP ASSISTED THE DESTROYER ESCORT, EUGENE E. ELMORE DE-686 IN LOCATING THE SUBMARINE. THE ELMORE MADE TWO HEDGEHOG ATTACKS WHICH SANK THE GERMAN SUBMARINE.