ammm – Page 5 – Ian Watts

ear-cain

Confidential

5 October 1943.

From: Cadet-Midshipman Frank H. CAIN, Second Class, (B-1), USMMCC

To: Supervisor, U.S. Merchant Marine Cadet Corps

Via: District Cadet-Midshipman Supervisor, New York.

Subject: Loss of vessel SS THEODORE DWIGHT WELD; Report on

The subject vessel left Liverpool, England, in ballast, in a convoy of about 50 ships, escorted by six corvettes. While travelling westward, the escort vessels dropped many depth charges at various times.
At 0400, on the morning of 20 September 1943, the writer reported on watch, and at 0530, the First Assistant Engineer send the writer up to open an inspection on the de-Gaussinssystem. Just as the writer reached the inspection plate, he heard a series of short rings on the general alarm. The urgency of the ringing caused the writer to rush up to his quarters on the bridge deck. Arriving there, he found Cadet-Midshipman Alan Atchinson putting on his life jacket. Immediately upon Cadet-Midshipman Atchinson leaving the room, the vessel was hit by a torpedo.
The writer was blown into the air by the force of the explosion and nearly fell through a big hold torn in the deck by the explosion. The writer picked himself up, put on his life jacket and went over to the flying bridge. The ship was listing heavily to starboard and was breaking up between the #3 hold and the midships house. The torpedo had hit in the port side of the engine room. By the time the writer has reached the starboard boat deck, the First Mate, Cadet-Midshipman Atchinson and several other persons had lowered the #3 boat into the water. The sea was already breaking over the ship, and the Captain came down behind the writer without his life jacket. A heavy sea took him over but he clung to the edge of the deck. The writer grabbed someone’s hand as he held the rail and reached for the Captain, but the next instant a heavy sea broke the writer’s hold and took him over.
The writer became tangled in the after falls and was dragged under. When he reached the surface, the after gun mount of the ship was just going under, while the forward section of the ship remained afloat. A member of the armed guard crew and the writer clung to a piece of one of the lifeboats which had been broken during the sinking. We were picked up out of the cold water about two hours later by a rescue boat from the RS RATHLIN.
The ship sank very rapidly, and from accurate information, the writer learned that she had sunk in 2 ½ minutes from the ringing of the alarm bell. The writer did not see Cadet-Midshipman Atchinson after he was on the boat deck, but it is assumed that he was washed overboard by the heavy seas, as he was never seen again.

Frank H. Cain

ear-cahill

File No. 43-6362
USNR No. 249639

CONFIDENTIAL

10 January 1944

From:       Cadet-Midshipman James L. CAHILL, Second Class, (D-1), USMMCC
To:         Supervisor, U.S. Merchant Marine Cadet Corps
Via:        District Cadet-Midshipman Supervisor, New York.
Subject:    Loss of vessel SS JOHN HARVEY; Report on

1. The subject vessel departed from Norfolk, Virginia on 15 October 1943 and arrived in Oran, North Africa on 2 November. At this port, the cargo was discharged and another cargo, consisting of ammunition was taken on. The vessel left Oran on 19 November in a convoy consisting of about 40 ships, escorted by three American destroyers and 5 DE’s. The convoy arrived in Port Augusta, Sicily the 25^th of November and left the following day for Bari, Italy, in a convoy of about 30 ships escorted by English and Italian corvettes. The next day, half the ships in the convoy cut off and headed for Taranto, and the subject vessel arrived in Bari on 28 November.

2. On 2 December 1943, at 1930, while the subject vessel was anchored just inside the jetty, and with full cargo of ammunition, the harbor and port were attacked by German bombers. The subject vessel was laying alongside two other vessels also loaded with ammunition. During the attack, one of the three ships was hit by a large aerial bomb, and it exploded, the concussion of the explosion caused the other two ships to explode also. The writer was ashore at the time of the attack and consequently does not know the exact details of the sinking of the subject vessel. There were no survivors and it was presumed that all hands aboard the ship at the time are lost.

3. The writer was taken from Bari to Taranto on a British ship, the SS DEFENDER and spent one night at a transit camp in Taranto and then entrained for Naples where he was placed aboard a British transport, the HMT CAMERONIA and taken to Oran. At Oran, the writer was given passage on the SS MIRABEAU B. LAMAR and arrived in the United States on 2 January 1944.

4. The only survivors of the subject vessel, to the best of the writer’s knowledge, were the seven men ashore at the same time as the writer. The other three Cadet-Midshipmen assigned to the subject vessel, namely,

Cadet-Midshipman Richard B. GLAUCHE
Cadet-Midshipman Alvin H. JUSTIS
Cadet-Midshipman Marvin H. BRODIE

were all aboard at the time of the raid, and it is presumed that all were lost. As far as the writer was able to learn, there was no trace found of the Cadet-Midshipmen or the subject vessel

JAMES L. CAHILL

FIRST ENDORSEMENT.

10 January 1944

To: S-CC

1. Forwarded. Attention invited to paragraph 4 concerning the loss of Cadet-Midshipman Glauche, Justis, and Brodie.

P. BRENNAN

G. S. FINDLAY

By direction

CONFIDENTIAL 424 USMMCC File No. 43-6362
USNR File No. 24503

10 January, 1944

From:       Cadet-Midshipman James L. CAHILL, Second Class, (D-1), USMMC
To:         Supervisor, U.S. Merchant Marine Cadet Corps
Via:        District Cadet-Midshipman Supervisor, New York.
Subject:    Loss of vessel SS JOHN HARVEY; Report on

3. The writer was ashore at the time of the attack and consequently does not know the exact details of the sinking of the subject vessel. There were no survivors and it was presumed that all hands aboard the ship at the time are lost.

4. The writer was taken from Bari to Taranto on a British ship, the SS DEFENDER and spent one night at a transit camp in Taranto and then entrained for Naples where he was placed aboard a British transport, the HMT CAMERONIA and taken to Oran. At Oran, the writer was given passage on the SS MIRABEAU B. LAMAR and arrived in the United States on 2 January 1944.

5. The only survivors of the subject vessel, to the best of the writer’s knowledge, were the seven men ashore at the same time as the writer. The other three Cadet-Midshipmen assigned to the subject vessel, namely; Cadet-Midshipman Richard B. GLAUCHE, Cadet-Midshipman Alvin H. JUSTIS, Cadet-Midshipman Marvin H. BRODIE, were all aboard at the time of the raid, and it is presumed that all were lost. As far as the writer was able to learn, there was no trace found of the Cadet-Midshipmen and the subject vessel was demolished.

Signed (James L. Cahill)

Cadet-Midshipman James L. CAHILL, Second Class, (D-1), USMMC

FIRST ENDORSEMENT.
10 January 1944

To: Supervisor, U.S. Merchant Marine Cadet Corps

Forwarded. Attention invited to paragraph 4 concerning the loss of Cadet-Midshipman Glauche, Justis, and Brodie.

P. BRENNAN

Signed (G.S. Findley)

G. S. FINDLAY

By direction

ear-broughton

TRAINING ORGANIZATION
U.S. MERCHANT MARINE CADET CORPS
30 BROADWAY, NEW YORK, 6, N.Y.

July 2, 1943.

CONFIDENTIAL

From:              Cadet-Midshipman James C. BROUGHTON, Third Class, (E-2), USMMCC
To:                  Supervisor, U.S. Merchant Marine Cadet Corps
Via:                  District Cadet Supervisor, New York.
Subject:           Loss of vessel MV FLORIDA; Report on

The vessel to which the writer was assigned had discharged its cargo at Natal, Brazil and was proceeding for an unknown port in the West Indies. She joined a convoy about 0030, May 27, 1943 off the coast of Brazil. The convoy consisted of about twelve merchant vessels, escorted by one destroyer, one P.C. boat, one corvette and two other ships of a type unknown to the writer.
At approximately 2348, May 27^th, the ship was hit by a torpedo, while sailing off the coast of Ceara, Brazil, about 50 miles off shore. The ship did not sink, but immediately following the torpedoing the stern began to settle rather rapidly, and the Master gave the order to abandon ship. This order was obeyed, and the abandoning of the ship was carried out in good order. All the lifeboats, with the exception of the #4 boat, which was swamped, were successfully lowered. All hands were able to get off the ship, and only minor injuries were sustained by members of the ship’s crew.
No signs of enemy craft were seen by anyone aboard the ship. An unconfirmed report the writer heard was that the crew of the 3 inch gun on the bow of the MV FLORIDA fired one round at “something in the dark” and later the members of the crew of the U.S. Navy corvette claimed that they were nearly hit by a shell.
Following the torpedoing, when it was evident that our ship would not sink, a salvage crew was put aboard the ship to salvage whatever was usable. The ship was bent at about a 22 degree angle aft of the midship house, and was taken in tow by a U.S.N. corvette and brought to the port of Fortaliza, Ceara, Brazil in order that a survey of the damage could be made. The FLORIDA was towed inside the breakwater, and a diver was sent down to make the inspection. He had learned that the ship had been hit well aft on the starboard side in the vicinity of the propeller. The tail shaft was broken off, and a hole sixteen feet by six feet (16’ X 6’) had been blown in the ship. However, it was determined that the ship could be repaired and put into service again. Consequently, after emergency repairs are made, she is to be towed to the United States for completion.
The writer was the only Cadet-Midshipman aboard this vessel, and he arrived in New York on July 1^st.

277 July 2 1943

CONFIDENTIAL
Cadet File No: 43-3412
USNR File No: 232622

From:              Cadet-Midshipman James C. BROUGHTON, Third Class, (E-2), USMMCC
To:                  Supervisor, U.S. Merchant Marine Cadet Corps
Via:                  District Cadet Supervisor, New York.

Subject: MV FLORIDA – loss of

The vessel to which the writer was assigned had discharged its cargo at Natal, Brazil and was proceeding for an unknown port in the West Indies. Vessel joined a convoy about 0030, May 27, 1943 off the coast of Brazil. The convoy consisted of about twelve merchant vessels, escorted by one destroyer, one P.C. boat, one corvette and two other ships of a type unknown to the writer.
At approximately 2348, May 27^th, the ship was hit by a torpedo, while off the coast of Ceara, Brazil, about 50 miles off the coast of Ceara Brazil. The ship did not sink, but immediately following the torpedoing the stern began to settle rather rapidly, and the Master gave the order to abandon ship. This order was obeyed, and the abandoning of the ship was carried out in good order. All the lifeboats, with the exception of the #4 boat, which was swamped, were successfully lowered. All hands were able to get off the ship, and only minor injuries were sustained by members of the ship’s crew.
No signs of enemy craft were seen by anyone aboard the ship. The writer heard an
unconfirmed report that the crew of the 3 inch gun on the bow of the MV FLORIDA fired one round at “something in the dark” and later the members of the crew of the U.S. Navy corvette claimed that they were nearly hit by the shell.
Following the torpedoing, when it was evident that our ship would not sink, a salvage crew was put aboard the ship to salvage whatever was usable. The ship sagged at about a 22 degree angle aft of the midship house, and was taken in tow by a U.S.N. corvette and brought to the port of Fortaliza, Ceara, Brazil in order that a survey of the damage could be made. The FLORIDA was towed inside the breakwater, and a diver was sent down to make the inspection. He had learned that the ship had been hit well aft on the starboard side in the vicinity of the propeller. The tail shaft was broken off, and a hole sixteen feet by six feet (16’ X 6’) had been blown in the ship. However, it was determined that the ship could be repaired and put into service again. Consequently, after emergency repairs are made, the vessel is to be towed to the United States for completion of necessary work.
The writer was the only Cadet-Midshipman aboard this vessel. He arrived in New York on July 1, 1943.

Signed (James C. Broughton)

Cadet-Midshipman James C. BROUGHTON, Third Clas, (E-2), USMMCC

FIRST ENDORSEMENT

From: District Cadet Supervisor, New York
To: Supervisor, U.S. Merchant Marine Cadet Corps

Forwarded.

P. BRENNAN

Signed (C. P. Jensen)

C. P Jensen

By direction

ear-brodsky

TRAINING ORGANIZATION
U.S. MERCHANT MARINE CADET CORPS
39 BROADWAY, NEW YORK, 6, N.Y.

JUNE 25, 1943.

CONFIDENTIAL

From: Cadet-Midshipman Jerome BRODSKY, Second Class, (E-1)
To: Supervisor, U.S. Merchant Marine Cadet Corps
Via: District Cadet Supervisor, New York
Subject: Loss of vessel SS STANVAC MANILA; Report on

1. The vessel to which the writer of the sign clear New York Harbor on April 12th, 1943 bound for Aruba, in convoy period she had only ballast in a cargo tanks, but a deck cargo of seven motor torpedo boats. The ship arrived at Aruba on April 23rd and proceeded to take on Navy fuel oil. After a two day stay at Aruba, the ship proceeded to the Canal Zone escorted by a Navy auxiliary craft. In Balboa, the deck cargo of the P.T. boats was discarded, and she loaded six different P.T. Boats. Two other boats were set up forward on the midshiphouse, the others were placed between the midshiphouse and the after deck. The ship then left Panama bound for New Caledonia, unescorted. We had smooth sailing most of the trip except for the occasional heavy seas and high winds.

2. About 14 days from her point of destination, two of the PT boats started used to use their radar. The radar went dead on May 23rd because their ____ when dead. At 0410, May 24th, the STANVAC MANILA was hit by a torpedo in the fire room on the port side.

3. At the time of the torpedoing, the writer was not on watch. Sleeping in his quarters, he was awakened by the explosion, and quickly dressing proceeded to the #4 boat, which was his emergency station. Upon arriving at a station, all hands assigned to #4 boat waited until the Third Mate arrived at the scene. When he arrived, he ordered all the men of #4 boat to go to #3 boat, because that was on the lee side. #3 boat was lowered away in good order, and after releasing the sea painter, proceeded to pick up some of the members of the crew who were in the water in the vicinity. The ship, meanwhile, was already down by the stern. The sea was moderately heavy and light wind was blowing, making rowing in hand lifting of the lifeboats quite difficult.

4. At about 1030, several U.S. planes circled over the area in order to help us. From the lifeboats, the writer was able to see the STANVAC MANILA sink, after rising to a vertical position. It sank at 1200. After the ship sank all the PT boats floated to the surface, but two of them sing because of have they had damaged by the explosion, and had large holes in the bottom of their hulls.

Subject: Loss of vessel SS STANVAC MANILA: Report on

5. About 1,500, the survivors were picked up by a U.S. destroyer, which also took the four P.T. boats in tow, and took us to Numoa, New Cambodia.

6. The writer did not see any signs of the enemy craft, either before or after the torpedoing of his ship.

Jerome Brodsky

FIRST ENDORSEMENT June 25, 1943

From: DS-NY
To: S-CC

Forward.

P. BRENNAN

C.P. JENSEN

By direction

ear-brennan

CONFIDENTIAL

31 August 1943.

From:              Cadet-Midshipman Christopher BRENNAN, First Class, (D-1), USMMCC
To:                  Supervisor, U.S. Merchant Marine Cadet Corps
Via:                  District Cadet Supervisor, New York.
Subject:           Loss of vessel SS TIMOTHY PICKERING; Report on

The subject vessel left Alexandria, Egypt in a convoy consisting of about 70 or 80 ships on 6 July 1943, bound for Avola, Sicily. The cargo consisted of munitions, T.N.T., high octane gasoline, trucks, 25 lb. howitzers and also 130 British soldiers. The weather was fair during the entire trip to Sicily.
The subject vessel was anchored in the harbor of Avola, about ½ mile from shore, when on the morning of 12 July, a few enemy planes came over and bombed the town. At 1140 of the same day, two more planes came over and dropped two 500-lb. bombs. One dropped astern of us, but the other hit the vessel, just aft of the deck house by #4 hatch. The ship was split in two by the exploding bomb, ammunition was exploding in the holds and the water around the ship was a mess of burning gasoline.
Immediately after the explosion, the writer crawled through the port passageway and jumped into the water. Some of the men went to the foredeck and put a doughnut raft over the side and swam to it. Both the port and starboard life rafts were jammed and could not be released.
British invasion barges, which were unloading the ships came over and picked the men out of the water, including the writer, who was in the water about 12 minutes. Bombing planes came over again about a half hour later.
After all the survivors had been taken off the ship, the vessel was shelled and sunk by one of the escorting ships to limit the danger to other ships in the area.
The other three Cadet-Midshipman assigned to the subject vessel with the writer, were killed. Cadet-Midshipman Warren P. Marks was known to have been in the engine room when the ship was hit. Cadet-Midshipman William L. Lyman was in the Cadet-Midshipman’s foc’s’le and never came out. Cadet-Midshipman Lawrence D. McLaughlin jumped over the side and was seen b those on the foredeck drifting into the burning oil. He was never seen again.
The writer returned to the United States on the SS JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY, another liberty ship.

FIRST ENDORSEMENT.

31 August 1943.

To: S-CC

Forwarded. Attention invited to paragraph 6 relative to the loss of Cadet-Midshipman Warren P. Marks, William L. Lyman and Lawrence D. McLaughlin.

P. BRENNAN

G. F. FELTUS

By direction

C O N F I D E N T I A L 325 Cadet File No. 43-1004
USNR File No. 180742

31 August, 1943

To:                        Supervisor, U.S. Merchant Marine Cadet Corps
From:                    Cadet-Midshipman Christopher BRENNAN, First Class, (D-1), USMMCC
Via:                        District Cadet Supervisor, New York

Subject: SS TIMOTHY PPICKERING – loss of

The subject vessel left Alexandria, Egypt, in a convoy consisting of about 70 or 80 ships, on 6 July, 1943, bound for Avola, Sicily. The cargo consisted of munitions, T.N.T., high octane gasoline, trucks, 25 lb. howitzers and also 130 British soldiers. The weather was fair during the entire trip to Sicily.
The subject vessel was anchored in the harbor of Avola, about half a mile from shore, when on the morning of 13 July, 1943, a few enemy planes came over and bombed the town. At 1140 of the same day, two more planes came over and dropped two 500-lb. bombs. One dropped astern, but the other hit the vessel, just aft of the deck house by #4 hatch. The ship was split in two by the exploding bomb, ammunition exploded in the holds and the water around the ship was a mess of burning gasoline.
Immediately after the explosion, the writer crawled through the port passageway and jumped into the water. Some of the men went to the foredeck, put a doughnut raft over the side and swam to it. Both the port and starboard life rafts jammed and could not be released.
British invasion barges, which wers unloading the ships, came over and picked the men out of the water, including the writer, who was in the water about 12 minutes. Bombing planes came over again about a half hour later.
After all the survivors had been taken off, the vessel was shelled and sunk by one of the escort, to limit the danger to other ships in the area.
The other three Cadet-Midshipman assigned to the subject vessel with the writer, were killed. Cadet-Midshipman Warren P. MARKS was known to have been in the engine room when the ship was hit. Cadet-Midshipman William L. LYMAN was in the Cadet-Midshipman’s quarters and never came out. Cadet-Midshipman Lawrence D. McLAUGHLIN jumped over the side and was seen be those on the foredeck drifting into the burning oil. He was never seen again.
The writer returned to the United States on the SS JAMES, WHITCOMB RILEY, a liberty ship.

Signed (Christopher J. Brennan)

Cadet-Midshipman Christopher J. BRENNAN, First Class, (D-1), USMMCC
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

FIRST ENDORESMENT

31 August, 1943

To: Supervisor, U.S. Merchant Marine Cadet-corps

Forwarded. Attention invited to paragraph 6 relatives to this loss of Cadet-Midshipman Warren P. MARKS, William L. LYMAN, and Lawrence D McLAUGHLIN

P. BRENNAN

Signed (G. F. Feltus)

G. F. FELTUS, By direction

File No. 43-1004
USNR No. 130742

CONFIDENTIAL

8 December 1943

From: Cadet-Midshipman Christopher BRENNAN, First Class, (D-1), USMMCC

To: Supervisor, U. S. Merchant Marine Cadet Corps

Via: District Cadet-Midshipman Supervisor, New York.

Subject: Combat Wound Ribbon; Request for

Preference: (a) Report of loss of vessel dated 31 August 1943

Furthering reference (a), the writer was wounded by shrapnel in the left side of the back while in the water following the abandonment of the ship. Application is respectfully made for a subject ribbon in view of these circumstances.

CHRISTOPHER J. BRENNAN

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

FIRST ENDORSEMENT.

8 December 1943

To: S-CC

Forwarded. Approval recommended.

P. BRENNAN

G. S. FINDLAY

By direction

File No. 43-1004
USNR No. 180742

10 January 1944

From: Cadet-Midshipman Christopher J. BRENNAN, First Class, (D-1), USMMCC

To:                  Mr. Frank Rusk, Seaman’s Service Awards Committee
                       Washington, D. C.
Via:                  (1) District Cadet-Midshipman Supervisor, New York.
                        (2) Supervisor, U.S. Merchant Marine Cadet Corps
Subject:           Mariners’ Medal and Combat Bar with Star; Request for

While serving aboard the SS TIMOTHY PICKERING, the ship was bombed and sunk on 13 July 1943 in the harbor of Avola, Sicily. While abandoning the ship. The writer received shrapnel wounds in the back.
Application is respectfully made for the subject bars. The writer has received authorization to wear the Cadet Corps ribbons corresponding to the subject bars.

CHRISTOPHER J. BRENNAN

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

FIRST ENDORSEMENT.

10 January 1944

To: Mr. Frank Rusk

Via: Supervisor, U.S. Merchant Marine Cadet Corps

Forwarded. The records in this office confirm service as stated above. Cadet-Midshipman Christopher J. BRENNAN is entitled to the bars requested.

P. BRENNAN

G. S. FINDLAY

By direction

ear-bergman

File No. 43-8364
USNR No. 225023

CONFIDENTIAL

From:                       Cadet-Midshipman Alfred H. BERGMAN, Second Class (D-1), [ill.]
To:                             Supervisor, U. S. Merchant Marine Cadet Corps
Via:                           District Cadet-Midshipman Supervisor, New York.
Subject:                                   Loss of vessel SS JOHN BASCOM; Report on

1: The subject vessel departed from New York with a general cargo including foodstuffs, equipment for an Army hospital and high test gasoline. Her des-tination was Bari, Italy. Upon entering the Mediterranean Sea, the subject vessel joined a convoy of five other ships escorted by Italian coastal craft and proceeded to her port of discharge. The weather was clear and mild prior to the attack on the ship

2: On 2 December 1943, while the subject vessel was tied up to the key at Bari, waiting to discharge, at about 1915, the ship’s time, she was attacked by squadron of enemy bombing planes. During the attack, an ammunition ship, which was also tied up in the harbor, was hit by an aerial bomb and exploded with a terrific explosion. There is some doubt as to whether the subject vessel was hit by a bomb in #3 or #5 hold, or whether the concussion of the exploding ammunition ship caused the damage, but in either case, all hands were forced to abandon her.

3: the #4 lifeboat was employed as the rest of the lifeboats had been blown out of position and part of the crew was forced to swim ashore. The Captain did a great job as he was unusually cool and collected. Many of the ship’s company, including the writer, were severely burned as a result of the explosion and several hours after the attack, the crew was taken off the key by British soldiers in patrol boats. Immediate hospitalization was given to those who were wounded.

4: No enemy craft were sighted due to the darkness.

5: Cadet-Midshipman Leroy Heinse was at his station during the attack and was severely wounded. He showed unusual bravery by carrying on after his serious injury. He was later hospitalized in Bari and, as far the writer knows, has not yet recovered.

6: The writer was sent across Italy to Naples from which port he was given passage back to the United States.

C O N F I D E N T I A L 423 USMMC File No: 43-8364

USNR File No. 225023

23 February 1944

From:                        Cadet-Midshipman Alfred H. BERGMAN, Second Class (D-1), [ill.]
To:                              Supervisor, U. S. Merchant Marine Cadet Corps
Via:                            District Cadet-Midshipman Supervisor, New York.

Subject: SS JOHN BASCOM – loss of

4: No enemy craft were sighted due to the darkness.

6: The writer was sent across Italy to Naples from which port he was given passage back to the United States.

(Signed) Alfred H. Bergman

Cadet-Midshipman Alfred H. Bergman, Second Class, (D-1) USMMC

– – – – – – – –

FIRST ENDORSEMENT

23 February, 1944

To: Supervisor, U. S. Merchant Marine Cadet Corps

1: Forwarded. Attention invited to the attached copy of discharge from a U. S. Army hospital, indicating the Cadet-Midshipman BERGMAN was severely burned during attack on his vessel. It is recommended that consideration be given him for thr award of a Mariners’ Medal

2: Attention is also invited to paragraph 5, further confirming the heroic actions of Cadet-Midshipman Leroy HEINSE, who was severely injured during the Bari attack. This office was verbally informed by Cadet-Midshipman BERGMAN that, due to the pressure created by the exploding ammunition ship, Cadet-Midshipman HEINSE’s abdomen was badly pitted with holes, caused by the interior pressure breaking through.

P BHENNAN

(Signed) G. S. Findlay, By direction.

HEADQUARTERS 7^th STATION HOSPITAL.

Office of the Admissions & Disposition Officer

APO#774, U. S. Army

18 January 1944

Subject: Discharge of Merchant Seaman

To: American Consulate Shipping Officer, Bldg. B, Oran Port, Oran, Alg.

1: This is to certify that Midshipman Alfred H. BERGMAN, was admitted to this hospital on 26 December 1943and discharged 18 January 1944.

2: Diagnosis:

                                        Burns, 2^nd & 3^rd degree, right hand
                                        chemical, allegedly incurred from
                                      Mustard Gas, during raid on Bari,                                         through enemy actions, while he was
                                        aboard the SS JOHN BASCOM, Bari, Italy                                         on 2 December 1943.

3: Line of duty: Yes

4: Patient is now ready to perform full sea duty.

/s/ WILLIAM C. SCHAEFER

WILLIAM C. SCHAEFER

Captain, Medical Corps

Certified to be a true copy:

G. S. FINDLAY, Lt. Comdr. USNR

FIRST ENDORSEMENT.

23 February 1944

To: S-CC

1. Forwarded. Attention invited to the attached copy of discharge from a U. S. Army hospital, indicating that Cadet-Midshipman Bergman, was severely burned during this attack on his vessel. It is recommended that consideration be given for the award of a Mariners’ Medal

2. Attention is also invited to paragraph 5, further confirmer the heroic actions of Cadet-Midshipman Leroy Heinse, who was severely injured during the Bari attack. This office was verbally informed by Cadet-Midshipman Bergman that, due to the pressure created by the exploding ammunition ship, Cadet-Midshipman Heinse’s abdomen was badly pitted with holes, cause by the internal pressure breaking through.

P. BRENNAN

G. S. FINDLAY

By direction

Encl. (1)

Certified copy of hospital discharge.

ear-becker

April 1, 1943

CONFIEDENTIAL

Cadet File No: 43-3567
USNR File No: 182172

From: Cadet-Midshipman Philip D. Becker, Third Class, (D-2), USMMCC
To: Supervisor, U.S Merchant Marine Cadet Corps
Via: District Merchant Marine Cadet Instructor, New York

Subject: SS CITIES SERVICE MISSOURI– loss of

1. Subject vessel was a part of a convoy of sixteen ships, escorted by two P.C. boats, a corvette and a converted yacht, and sailed from New York on March 4, 1943. The convoy consisted of tankers and cargo ships, the former bound for Aruba and the Latter bound for Cuba. The voyage was uneventful until Windward Passage the convoy was chased by submarines most of the night. Eight emergency turns were executed and no ship was hit. In the morning the convoy was changed, three cargo ships going into Guantanamo Bay and three more tankers joining us, leaving the number of vessels still at sixteen and the escort changing to two destroyers patrolling the head of the convoy and two P.C vessels, one on each flank. Our rear was unguarded.

(continued)

Copies made 28

Distribution only as follows:

1. Capt. Edward Macauley, USN (Ret’d) 15. Comdr. Paul S. Maguire, USNR

2. Mr. Tolfair Knight 16. Lt. J. Kelly, USMS

3. Capt. J. H. Tomb 17. Lt. Comdr. H. A. Burch, USNR

4. Comdr. R. M. Sheaf, USNR 18. Lt. Comdr. C. L. Mosher, USNR

5. Comdr. H. A. Andrews, USNR 19. Mr. J. C. Outler, WSA

6. Comdr. A. O. Brady, USNR 20. Mr. Frank Rusk, WSA

7. Lt. Comdr. H. R. McPhee, USNR 21. Mr. S. D. Schell, WSA

8. Comdr. B. M. Dodson, USNR 22. Lt. Stanton H. Delaplane, USMS

9. Capt. Giles C. Stadman, USNR 23. Lt. Stephen Manning, USMS

10. Lt. Comdr. E. S. Hochuli, USNR 24. Lt. M. Breece, USNR

11. Lt. Comdr. J. Powers, USNR 25. Comdr. T. C. Conwell, USN

12. Capt. Felix Johnson, USN 26. Capt. R. R. McNulty, USNR

13. Comdr. J. J. Tunney, USNR 27. Comdr. W. B. Tucker, USNR

14. Lt. F. Rissenoerg, USMS 28. Comdr. C. B. Lindley, USNR

2. On the morning of March 13, 1943 at about 0500, zone plus 5, 180 miles from Aruba, subject vessel was struck by a torpedo. The writer awoke when it struck dressed and proceeded immediately to his boat station at #2 life boat. The torpedo hit on the starboard bow. Headway was lost immediately. One of the destroyers came back and asked if the vessel had been torpedoes, then it left. At 0505 a Datoh ship ahead of us was hit, burst in flames and sank. The Captain then asked the crew if they wanted to abandon the ship or try to keep her afloat and make port. They replied that they would stay by her. For the next 45 minutes the writer worked with the first mate opening valves and pumping water into the stern and pumping out the bow. The vessel carried water ballast and no cargo.

3. At 0550 all that the writer could do had been done and he went aft for a cup of coffee. At 0555, while sitting in the Officers’ Mess, a second torpedo struck. This time in the engine room, on the port side and under the crew’s forecastle. The writer proceeded to his boat station forward and heard the gun crew firing at the submarine, which had surfaced on our port side. The command to lower boats was given, and the shit was abandoned. The ship sank at 0700 and at 0900 survivors were picked up by one of the destroyers and taken to Curacao, then flown to Aruba and given passage back to New York on the SS Sea Way, where the writer is now waiting to be paid and assigned to another ship.

Signed (Philip D. Becker)

Cadet- Midshipman Philip D. Becker, Third Class, (D-2), USMMCC

FIRST ENDORSEMENT April 1, 1943

From: District Merchant Marine Cadet Instructor
To: Supervisor, U.S. Merchant Marine Cadet Corps

Forwarded

B. M. Dodson

Signed (C.P. Jensen)

C. P. Jensen

By direction

ear-bates

April 29, 1943.

CONFIDENTIAL

From: Cadet- Midshipman Warren II. Bates, Third Class, D-2, USMMCC
To: Supervisor, U.S. Merchant Marine Cadet Corps

Via: District Cadet Supervisor, New York.

Subject: Loss of SS BENJAMIN SMITH; Report on

We loaded on general cargo for the U.S. Army and departed from Charleston, South Carolina, on November 16, proceeding in convoy to Trinidad. From there to Liberia and then alone towards our destination, which the writer has been informed was the Gold Coast of Africa.
On January 23, while in the vicinity of Cape Palmas, at about 1400 while the weather was fine with a light swell, we were hit by three torpedoes. The first one struck in No. 1 hold, the second just at aft the engine room and the third torpedo causes the boilers to blow up, and it was, of course, imperative that we abandon ship.
One of the lifeboats was damaged beyond use, but the other three were intact, and the ship was abandoned in orderly fashion. In these three boats and one of the life rafts which was used by some of the armed guard.
While we were in the boats, we sighted a German submarine. It was too far away to observe it in daylight, but I did notice it carried two deck guns, one forward and one aft, and it appeared to be about 200 feet in length.
When daylight broke, we took the men from the rafts into the lifeboats, and the three boats proceeded in company towards land, which we made on the Ivory Coast on January 24. The natives helped us the best they could, but their supplies were insufficient to take care of us also, so after a period of about ten days, we departed in boats and proceeded to another place on the Ivory Coast, Grand Lahou, where we were taken care of by the French. Eventually, we made our way to Takoradi on the Gold Coast and managed to get a plane to Miami, Florida. From there we returned to New York, more or less infected with malaria which I am confident we will manage to get cured.

Warren H. Bates

C O N F I D E N T I A L
Cadet File No: 43-573
USNR File No: 165227

From: Cadet-Midshipman Warren H. Bates, Second Class, D-1, USMMCC
To: Supervisor, U.S. Merchant Marine Cadet Corps
Via: District Cadet Supervisor, New York
Subject: SS Benjamin Smith – loss of

Subject vessel loaded general cargo for the U.S. Army and sailed from Charleston, South Carolina, on November 16, 1942. Proceeding in convey to Trinidad, From there to Liberia and then alone towards vessel’s destination, which the writer has been informed was the Gold Coast of Africa.
On January 23, 1943, while in vicinity of Cape Palmas, at about 1400, while the weather was fine with a light swell prevailing, ship was hit by three torpedoes. The first one struck in #1 hold, the second just aft the engine room and the third torpedo caused the boilers to blow up. It became imperative to abandon ship.
One of the lifeboats was damaged beyond use, but the other three intact and the ship was abandoned in orderly fashion in the three boats and one of the life rafts which was used by members of the armed guard.

(Continued) – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Copies made 32

Distribution only as follows:

Rear Admiral E.S. Land, USN (Ret.)
Cap. Edward Macauley, USN (Ret.)
Mr. Telfair Knight
Capt. J.H. Tomb, USN (Ret.)
Comdr. R.M. Shea, USNR
Comdr. Patrick Brennan, USNR
Comdr. A.O. Brady, USNR
Lt. Comdr. H.R. McPhee, USNR
Comdr. B.M. Dodson, USNR
Capt. Giles C. Stedman, USNR
Lt. Comdr. E.S. Hochuli, USNR
Lt. Comdr. J. Powers, USNR
Capt. Felix Johnson, USN
Comdr. J.J. Tunney, USNR
Lt. F. Riesenberg Jr., USMS
Comdr. Paul S. Maguire, USNR
Lt. J. Kelly, USMS
Lt. Comdr. H.A. Burch, USNR
Rear Admiral A.B. Randall, USNR
Mr. J.C. Cutler, WSA
Mr. Frank Rusk, WSA
Mr. S.D. Schell, WSA
Lt. Stanton H. Delaplane, USMS
Lt. Stephen Manning, USMS
Lt. M Breece, USNR
Rear Admiral H. A. Wiley, USN (Ret.)
Capt. R.R. McNulty, USNR
Comdr. W.B. Tucker, USNR
Comdr. G.E. Lindley, USNR
Lt. Comdr. W.F. Thornton, USNR
Lt. J.R. Sanders, USN
Lt. Comdr. E. Waters, USNR

While in the boats, sighted what writer believes was a German submarine. It was too far away to observe it in the darkness, but did say that it carried two deck guns, one forward and one aft, and it appeared to be about 200 feet in length.

When daylight broke, took the men from the rafts into the lifeboats and the three boats proceeded in company towards land which was reached on the Ivory Coast on January 24, 1943. The natives helped us the best they could, but their supplies were insufficient to take care of the crew, so after a period of about 10 days, departed in boats and proceeded to another place on the Ivory Coast called Grand Lahou, where crew was taken care of by French inhabitants. Eventually made way to Takoradi on the Gold Coast and managed to get a plane to Miami, Florida. From there the crew, many of whom became infected with malaria returned to New York.

Signed (Warren H. Bates)

Cadet-Midshipman Warren H. Bates, Second Class, D-1, USMMCC

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

FIRST ENDORSEMENT April 29, 1943

From: District Cadet Supervisor, New York
To: Supervisor, U.S. Merchant Marine Cadet Corps

Forwarded,

Signed (C.P. Jensen)

Lt. Comdr. C.P. Jensen, USNR

By direction

ear-barton

CONFIDENTIAL

From:                          Cadet-Midshipman Robert W. BARTON, Second Class
                                    (D-1), USMMCC
To:                              Supervisor, U.S. Merchant Marine Cadet Corps
Via:                              District Cadet Supervisor, New York.
Subject:                       Loss of vessel SS RICHARD CASWELL; Report on

1. The writer’s vessel was proceeding from Buenos Aires to Rio de Janiero with a cargo of hides, canned beef, tungsten and manganese ore and fertilizer. The vessel traveled alone and unescorted. The ship was scheduled to join a convoy at Rio for the voyage to the United States.

2. On July 16, 1943, while in position about 250 miles off-shore, and one day’s run to Rio, the ship was struck by a torpedo, striking in the engine room on the starboard side. The writer had just gone on watch when he was ordered by the First Officer to go down to the main deck and tell the Bos’n to trim the vantilators on #4 and #5 holds. The writer found the Bos’n in the crew’s messroom, and had just delivered the Mate’s orders, when the torpedo struck. Every man immediately went to his boat station and “abandon ship” was ordered.

3. The writer proceeded to his boat station and was standing by for the boat to be lowered. The writer’s duty was to release the gripe which he did as soon as abandon ship was sounded. While the writer was standing by waiting for the boat to go down, the radio operator came down to the boat deck with the emergency radio. He asked the writer to see that the set was put into the boat as he had to return to the radio shack to send an S.O.S. The writer secured a line to the set and called for the men in the boat to receive it. Either they could not her me or they thought it was someone’s baggage. At any rate, they released the falls and pulled away from the ship.

4. At about this time, the second torpedo hit the ship, again in the engine room, and flying debris made the writer seek cover under the wing of the bridge. After the debris had stopped falling, the writer looked back along the deck, and saw that the ship had split in two. Since there were no boats or rafts in sight, the writer decided to jump over the side. The writer went over to the port side of the ship on the main deck. The sea was fairly rough at this time and the writer was washed back on to the ship. He then started across #3 hatch which was pretty well under water. The Bos’n had some wire cargo runners piled on top of the hatch which the writer could not see because of the hatch being partly covered with water, and he got caught in the wires. The writer got loose by pulling himself up the shrouds of the mainmast. He soon got clear of the ship and got hold of a piece of puddin boom that had broken free of the ship. The writer hung on to this until he was picked up by one of the lifeboats.

Subject: Loss of vessel SS RICHARD CASWELL; Report on

5. Four days later the survivors were picked up by the Argentine freighter MEXICO and landed in Rio Grande de Sol, Brazil on July 23^rd. All the survivors, including the cadet-Midshipman assigned to the subject vessel, were then flown to the United States by the Army Transport Command.

6. The writer has been told that the submarine which attacked the subject vessel surfaced after the ship disappeared, but the writer was not in a position to see it, and therefore can not give a description of it.

ROBERT W. BARTON

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

FIRST ENDORSEMENT:

7 September 1943.

To: S-CC

1. Forwarded.

G. F. FELTUS

Acting

ear-atkinson

File No. 43-8293
USNR No. 273598

CONFIDENTIAL
28 July 1944

From:              Cadet-Midshipman James A. ATKINSON, First Class (D-1), USMMCC
To:                  Supervisor, U.S. Merchant Marine Cadets Corps
Via:                  District cadet-Midshipman Supervisor, New York.
Subject:                       Loss of Vessel SS ESSO HARRISBURG; Report on

The vessel to which the writer was assigned was proceeding from Cartagena, Columbia, S.A. to New York with a full cargo of crude oil. She was travelling alone and unescorted in a rough sea, although the weather was fair.
On 6 July 1944, at 1940 ship’s time, while in a position about 83 miles N.W. of Aruba, the general alarm rang and the writer proceeded from his quarters and hurried to his gun station at the No. 5 20mm gun, assisting the gunner who had become rather excited in loading the gun. Shortly after arriving at his gun station, the subject vessel was hit by a torpedo directly of the propeller. Immediately all power from the engine room went off and the ship began to lose headway. Noticing that all the guns had been abandoned, the writer left his gun and proceeded to his boat station. The ship had begun to settle by the stern and all the boat crews were standing by waiting orders. The Captain did not sound “Abandon Ship” because he thought the vessel would not sink in spite of the fact that the ship had now lost all way and was dead in the water.
The Chief Mate cast off the #2 raft and the Captain cast off the #1 raft. Orders were given to the writer’s boat to lower away and hold in alongside the sinking ship. This was impossible because of the heavy seas and although the writer’s boat nearly capsized, it was successfully launched and all the men on that side aboard the ship were taken off. The sea painter was cast off after passing the stern of the ship, four men were picked up from the water. Immediately following this, the subject vessel was hit by a second torpedo followed by a third one minute later. The subject vessel then sank almost immediately, leaving only the bow sticking out of the water. The writer’s boat had 15 men in her, and after floating for 4 days landed at Dubillo, Columbia on 10 July 1944.

James A. ATKINSON

C O N F I D E N T I A L 466 USMMCC File No. 43-8293
USNR File No. 273598

28 July 1944

From: Cadet-Midshipman James A. ATKINSON, First Class, (D-1), USMMCC

To: Supervisor, U.S. Merchant Marine Cadet Corps

Via: District Cadet-Midshipman Supervisorr, New York

Subject: SS ESSO HARRISBURG – loss of

Subject vessel proceeded from Cartigena, Columbia, South America, to New York with a full cargo of crude oil, travelling alone and unescorted in rough sea, although the weather was fair.
On 6 July 1944, at 1940, while in position about eighty three miles NW off Aruba, the general alarm rang. The writer proceeded from his quarters and hurried to his gun station at No. 5 20 MM gun where he assisted the gunner, who had become rather excited, in loading the gun. Shortly after, subject vessel was hit by a torpedo directly in the propeller. Immediately all power from the engine room went off and the ship began to lose headway. Noticing that all guns had been abandoned, the writer left his gun and proceeded to his boat station. The ship had begun to settle by the stern and all boat crews were standing awaiting orders. The Master did not sound “abandon ship”, believing the vessel would not sink despite the fact that the ship had now lost all was and was dead in the water.
The Chief Mate cast off #2 raft and the Master cast off #1 raft. Orders were given to the writer’s boat crew to lower away and to hold alongside the sinking ship. This was impossible because of the heavy seas and although the boat nearly capsized, it was successfully launched and all men on that side of the ship were taken off. The sea painter was cast off and after passing the stern of the ship, four men were picked up from the water. Immediately following this, subject vessel was hit by a second torpedo followed by a third, one minute later. Subject vessel sank quickly, leaving only the bow sticking out of the water. The writer’s boat had fifteen men in her, and after floating four days landed in Dibullo, Columbia, 19 July, 1944.

Signed (James A. Atkinson)

Cadet-Midshipman James A. ATKINSON, First Class, (D-1), USMMCC

FIRST ENDORSMENT

28 July 1944

To: Supervisor, U. S. Merchant Marine Cadet Corps

!, Fowarded.

Signed (G.S. Findlay)

G.S. Findlay

Acting