PortSide Interview: Don Horton's Memories of Red Hook, 1940-50
Don Horton worked with his family on barges from the age of 10 to 18. This meant that during WWII, his family was part of the merchant marines, doing dangerous work since German U-boats were attacking American commercial vessels trading along our coast. His brother, while a minor, died when a tug was torpedoed by a German U-boat off the Virginia coast. In 2015, PortSide interviewed him as we took him around Red Hook to reminisce about his wartime memories of the place. He accidentally meets Sunny Balzano, and they share memories. Don is a leader in the movement to have the women, children, elderly and disabled merchant mariners of WWII be recognized for their service.