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Imagine this: It's Christmas morning, 1944. You're far from home, aboard the SS Robert J Walker sailing in the vast expanse of the Tasman Sea. Suddenly, the tranquility of the holiday is shattered. A German U-boat, U-862 commanded by Heinrich Timm, surfaces and launches a torpedo attack. This wasn't just another day in World War II; this was a fight for survival.
The Robert J Walker, a Liberty ship crewed by the US Naval Reserves, wasn't going down without a fight. Seaman First Class Harold Stone, an anti-aircraft gunner, sprang into action. His weapon of choice? A 20mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft gun, typically used against aerial threats, not torpedoes speeding towards the ship at surface level.
What happened next could be described as nothing short of a Christmas miracle. With incredible accuracy and a good dose of luck, Stone fired round after round at the approaching torpedo. At what felt like the last possible second, as the torpedo closed within 100 yards, one of Stone's rounds struck its target. The torpedo detonated in a thunderous explosion of water and smoke.
This act of incredible marksmanship stunned the U-boat crew and boosted the morale of the American sailors. They had defied the odds and survived the initial attack. But the danger wasn't over yet.
The U-boat, low on torpedoes but determined to sink the American freighter, launched a fifth torpedo at the Robert J Walker. This time, luck ran out. The torpedo found its mark, tearing a gaping hole in the ship's hull.
Despite the damage, the Robert J Walker refused to sink. The crew's valiant efforts kept her afloat long enough for rescue to arrive. The U-862, fearing the arrival of Allied warships, slipped away, adding another kill to its record.
The story of the SS Robert J Walker is a testament to the courage and determination of ordinary men thrust into extraordinary circumstances. It's a story of survival against the odds, a beacon of hope amidst the dark days of World War II. And for Seaman First Class Harold Stone, it's a Christmas story he would never forget.
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