Rudy spent all his time at sea with the Armed Guard, almost three years, as a member of the gun crew on board S.S. Sommelsdjik, a Dutch freighter converted for service as a troop transport. On Christmas Day 1944 Sommelsdjik was torpedoed by a Japanese plane as she lay at anchor off Samar in the Philippines. The explosion stunned Rudy, who was on deck at the time. Recovering, he tried to take up a position on a three-inch gun on the bow but found the weapon inoperative. He tried to call the bridge but communications had been knocked out, so he made his way there and asked for instructions. From there he took a party forward to throw overboard the ammo in the gun's ready box. Concerned about the condition of ammo in the magazine below, Rudy tried to reach it but was turned back by fire. He did manage to activate a sprinkler system, very likely saving the ship. For action under enemy fire, he was awarded a Navy Commendation.
Rudy was born in Mesa, Ariz., and spent the postwar years in Los Angeles.
Responses
« Back to index | View thread »