God bless the United States Navy

Editor's note: Along with his letter, Roy Barber included a note advising he was a carrier for the Southeast Missourian from 1932 to 1976 on Main Street and northwest of the shoe factory. He was drafted into the Army for World War II.

On May 3, 1944, 3,000 Army troops aboard HMS Arawa were traveling to England so they could invade Nazis in Europe. In the mid-Atlantic Ocean the German U-boat 473 commanded by Heinz Sternberg shot a torpedo at the Army troop ship Arawa with me aboard.

The USS Donnell, a destroyer escort commanded by F.C. Billings, moved the Donnell in front of the Arawa so the torpedo hit the Donnell, killing 29 Navy men but saving 3,000 Army men.

On Memorial Day, we honor those who gave their lives: James B. Beaumont Jr., Eugene D. Burdue, Harold N. Cohen, Guy R. Coleman, John E. Coppinger, William E. Corzine, David W. Danner, Lloyd A. Dellinger, George R. Ellison, Henry Ferrerio, Robert E. Fisher, Victor T. Gallotto, Edgar L. Grey Jr., Robert C. Hannahan, James K. Haworth, Lando H. Hendrix, Cortes D. Jackson, William R. Johnson, Richard H. Johnston, Alonzo R. Kashner Jr., James H. Mason, Tom C. Matelate, Edward I. Moskel, Edward F. Ryan, Arthur E. Schaff, Tom K. Staton, Harry H. Sykes, Fred Wicklow and James L. Wright.

God bless the U.S. Navy. They saved me.

ROY BARBER, now 96 years young,

Memphis, Tennessee