Raine, Norman Reilly "Tugboat Annie Wins Her Medal"

Classic Tugboat Annie, set in late 1945 right after the conclusion of World War 2. Annie and her NARCISSUS are off the coast of Southern California, towing a barge load of oil north to Puget Sound. The old girl is as racy as ever and still a bit miffed that she’d not been accepted by the Navy as a WAVE — or any other women’s auxiliary — during the War. (Annie had done her part, nonetheless, and had taken the NARCISSUS through the Battle of the Atlantic to England and had even taken part in the Murmansk run, where she and her crew had towed many a torpedoed vessel!) Annie’s peaceful voyage north is interrupted by a rogue Japanese submarine which has refused to accept Japan’s conclusive defeat, and, after the sub has torpedoed a nearby troopship returning veterans to the U.S., Annie vows revenge. Annie tricks the Japanese into thinking that they can get hold of her oil cargo. Navy dive bombers, clued into Annie’s intent, soon take out the submarine and Annie is duly awarded the Navy Cross for her actions.