Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: January 17, 1983
• Invested on: March 04, 1983

On 12 August 1980, Charles Henderson was Third Engineer on the M.V. Ralph Misener, when an explosion occurred in the engine-room as the ship sailed up the Saguenay River. Shortly after the blast he entered the engine-room by the port-side door and searched for injured crew embers, but found none. Aware that the main engine was still running he went, with great difficulty, to the control room to stop the machinery. Moments later, in spite of a painful ankle injury sustained while on his way to the control room, he ran out a hose and began spraying down the various fires in the lower engine-room. His initiative minimized the threat of further explosions.