Karl F. Neupert

Lieutenant Commander, Executive Officer

Legion of Merit

"I think we probably all owe him our lives.  It was he that was most likely responsible for preventing an "abandon ship" order.  His knowledge of the technical aspects of the ship convinced him that we could keep her afloat.  He knew exactly what it would have taken for her to sink.  I think I might have known him better than anyone else on board; at least I worked for him longer.  I stayed in touch with him after the war until his untimely death."     ----W. Fowers