While en route from South Africa to Dutch Guiana, his ship, Alaskan, was struck by two torpedoes in the early morning darkness, and immediately commenced to sink. The general alarm having been sounded, all hands abandoned ship, the Master being the last person to leave on the only remaining raft. He was soon ordered aboard the submarine for questioning, and finally instructed to return to the raft, which contained eight shipmates. After spending all day and the following night aboard the leaking raft a capsized lifeboat was righted, repaired, and rigged with an improvised sail. Without compass, sextant, or charts, Captain Greenlaw then set his course due west and after thirty-nine days reached a South American port. His unfaltering courage and leadership were mainly responsible for saving the lives of his shipmates and will be a lasting inspiration to all seamen of the United States Merchant Marine.