Press "Enter" to skip to content

Bay Area Veteran Among the Unsung Heroes of World War II

With each passing day, there are fewer people who experienced World War II firsthand.

Among the unsung heroes of the war were the merchant marines. One Bay Area veteran is one of the merchant marines getting their due.

101-year-old John Edward Laughton, also known as “Big Ed” can tell many of those stories.

Merchant marines like Laughton were civilians, carrying supplies and people in support of the war. They were always in harm’s way, often targeted by enemy submarines and planes.

This past May, Laughton and other merchant marines were recognized in a ceremony in San Francisco. The result of an act passed by Congress, making them eligible for the Congressional Gold Medal.

Laughton spoke with NBC Bay Area’s Joe Rosato Jr. about his World War II stories and memories.

You can watch the full story in the video above.


Source: NBC Bay Area

Be First to Comment

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *