US Navy

1st Veteran of the Quarter

Nominated by his wife, Mrs. Ruth Schultz

“I would like to nominate my husband, of nearly 70 years, Mr. Charles Schultz, as a ‘Branson Bank Veteran.’ In 1941, Charles Schultz, then 21 years of age, was called to active duty in the Navy. He served for a period of 52 months until the war ended in 1945. After attending several radio schools, he served as a member of the ‘Armed Guard.’ It was during that time that he encountered the greatest experience of his life.

Our ally at that time, Russia, badly needed supplies as they, too, was fighting the Nazi forces. In order to deliver those supplies the Merchant Marine faced very difficult and dangerous convoy trips to supply those needs. The Armed Guard of the U.S. Navy was assigned to help escort those convoys. Charles was a Radioman, Third Class and he and a Navy Signalman represented the entire U.S. Navy as they sailed on what later became known as “The Suicide Convoy.” Bombing from the air or submarine action of torpedo’s later sank 32 of the 36 ships.

Since the signalman had been hospitalized in route to Scotland, Charles became the only Navy man on the Merchant Ship, the ‘SS Olapana’ as they proceeded on the trip. After many air attacks on the convoy, his ship, along with 31 other ships, were sunk by a torpedo. The ship sunk in a matter of a short time, 6 men in the engine room died trapped there.

The Captain of the ‘SS Olapana’ and Charles were the last to leave the ship. He would later receive a ‘Naval Commendation’ for Heroism by the Navy Department. Many years later Charles received a Russian Medal and a letter of appreciation from their government.

Because the lifeboats were destroyed, the survivors lashed three life rafts together. After three days of cold and frozen feet they landed on a bare island north of Russia where they remained for 10 days. That island was Nova Zembla. Much later, it was used to test Russia’s first atom bomb.

The survivors were later rescued in small groups by a Catalina plane, which flew them to Archangle, Russia. They spent the next six weeks there where some of the sailors were hospitalized. Conditions there were grim due to the effects of the war. When transportations back to the U.S. were available they returned gratefully.

Charles has led an active life and recently celebrated his 90th Birthday!”