As part of MPR’s “Portraits of Valor” series, MPR’s Evan Frost profiles Minnesotan Joe Stephes, who enlisted in the Navy before the United States officially entered World War II.
Stephes served in the Atlantic on the USS Wichita. The ship’s mission was to guard supply ships from German attacks as they made their way to Murmansk, Russia. He was nearly killed when his ship was caught broadside to a German attack. The USS Wichita later moved to the Pacific campaign.
This is one of six profiles in series.
Click links below for other profiles in series:
https://archive.mpr.org/stories/2020/04/15/portraits-of-valor-dan-cylkowski-94-army
https://archive.mpr.org/stories/2020/05/08/portraits-of-valor-bob-holmstrom-94-army
https://archive.mpr.org/stories/2020/05/22/portraits-of-valor-dick-kern-94-army
Awarded:
2020 MBJA Eric Sevareid Award, first place in Series - Large Market Radio category