Torode, William G. "Too Old for Service"

Torode maintains that no one was too old for service during the early dark days of World War 2. His two chief characters, Captain “Peg-Leg” Lacey of the freighter REXBOROUGH and the ship’s wireless operator (and narrative voice for the short story) are 66 and 65 respectively. After their ship has been torpedoed in the South Atlantic, the two men are taken prisoner aboard the U-boat that had attacked them. By eavesdropping they learn that the sub’s intended next target is a crippled British aircraft carrier — and soon hatch a (successful) plot to warn off the carrier and doom the U-boat. Both men survive their ordeal. Watch for an ending worthy of O. Henry.