In Admiral's uniform, King Harald V of Norway honored World War II survivors at the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington D.C., Friday, March 4.
3/27/2006 :: With 19 Norwegian refugees on board, the Liberty Ship SS Henry Bacon was sunk by the Germans on February 23, 1945, some hundred nautical miles off the coast of Northern Norway. 60 years later King Harald met with seven of the Norwegian survivors, four of the American crew aboard the SS Henry Bacon and British Len Phillips, who picked up the survivors on the HMS Opportune.
Major General Jan Blom presented a crest to Jerry Gerold, the last survivor of the American Navy crew on the SS Henry Bacon, with the inscription: "In appreciation of your heroic contribution to Norway during World War II - SS Henry Bacon - February 23, 1945."
The heroic efforts by the crew that led to the rescue of the Norwegian refugees, was commemorated on Friday, March 4 at the U.S. Navy Memorial and Naval Heritage Center.
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Royal Norwegian Embassy / Arild Strømmen 6 Mar 2005