A Laundry Man Went to War | World War II

At 7:57 a.m., while collecting laundry, the "Battle Stations" alarm rang out. The USS West Virginia was under heavy attack, struck by bombs and torpedoes, and engulfed in flames.

Despite not being formally trained on weapons due to his position as a Black sailor, he took action. Manning a .50-caliber machine gun, he fired at incoming Japanese planes until his ammunition was depleted.

Out of a crew of 1,300, he was among the last three to leave the sinking ship, saving others as he swam to safety. His bravery during the attack made him one of the most celebrated Black Americans of World War II.