Charles "Toby" Stoudt was born in 1927. He grew up during the Great Depression, and when he turned 16 he enlisted in the Merchant Marines, a branch of the military that most people don't know about. (The men who served in the Merchant Marines, including Toby, weren't recognized as veterans until 1988) The Merchant Marines served a critical role during WWII, they were the ones who carted men and supplies over bodies of water. Without them, WWII would have been much more difficult. During his time with the Merchant Marines, Toby served on two different ships, the USS Oneida Victory and the USS Winchester Victory. On the Oneida he worked as an assistant baker, and on the Winchester, he worked as a storekeeper. Working in the Merchant Marines was a very dangerous job, with 1 in every 26 men who served never coming home. Toby now lives with his wife in Illinois.