World War II Honoree

Charles Nilsen

Branch of Service

U.S. Merchant Marine

Hometown

Boston, Massachusetts

Honored By

Jeff McCulloh

Relationship

Neighbor

Originally a sailor on a Norwegian Arctic whaler, he joined the Norwegian merchant marine in 1940, making numerous convoy trips across the Atlantic aboard the oil tanker Fenja. After the Fenja was damaged he joined the U.S. merchant marine and completed many more convoy trips across the Atlantic. He earned the Merchant Marine Atlantic ribbon, the Merchant Marine Victory ribbon and Norwegian Haakon Cross.