ear-fallone

July 7, 1943

285

C O N F I D E N T I A L

Cadet File No: 43-3427

USNR File No: 182350

From:                       Cade-Midshipman Patrick C. FALLONE, Third Class, D-2, USMCC

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

Via:                           District Cadet Supervisor, New York

Subject:                                   SS MATT W. RANSOM – torpedoing of

  1. The SS MATT W. RANSOM sailed from New York on March 19, 1943, bound from Bermuda to join a convoy at that port.  Forming there, the convoy sailed for Casablanca, North Africa on March 23, 1943.  Arriving in Gibraltar on April 11, 1943, the convoy split up, and the vessel to which the writer was assigned departed for Casablanca together with six other ships.
  2. At about 1545, on April 11, 1943, the writer’s vessel was struck by a torpedo.  The crew assembled on the boat deck and waited for the Captain to give the orders to abandon the ship.  The ship did not appear to be sinking.  Nevertheless, the crew took to the lifeboats and floated around in the vicinity of the vessel for some time.
  3. Later, after ascertaining that the ship would not sink, the Captain and six other members of the crew returned to the vessel and the rest of the crew were picked up by U.S. Navy patrol boats.  The SS MATT W. RANSOM was then taken in tow by the Navy tugs and safely towed to the harbor in Casablanca.
  4. The entire crew of the ship then boarded the ship and proceeded to discharge the cargo.  All hands went right on with the regular duties.
  5. The writer remained in Casablanca for almost three months living aboard the ship until it was finally determined that the ship was not in fit condition to return to the United States.  The crew was then given transportation back to the United States on the SS MARIPOSA departing from Casablanca on June 27, 1943, and arriving in Boston, Mass. on July 4, 1943.
  6. No lives were lost in the action.  The three Cadet-Midshipmen, shipmates of the writer, were all repatriated at the same time, and all were in good health, none the worse off for the experience.  All the Cadet-Midshipman entrained for New York and reported July 6, 1943 to the District Cadet Supervisor for further orders.

Signed (Patrick C. Fallone)

Cadet-Midshipman Patrick C. FALLONE, Third Class, D-2, USMMCC

TRAINING ORGANIZATION

U.S. MERCHANT MARINE CADET CORPS

39 BROADWAY, NEW YORK, 6, N.Y.

July 7, 1943.

CONFIDENTIAL

From:                       Cadet-Midshipman Patrick C. FALLONE, Third Class, D-2, USMMCC

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

Via:                           District Cadet Supervisor, New York.

Subject:                                   Loss of vessel SS MATT W. RANSOM; Report on

  1. The MATT W. RANSOM left New York on March 19, 1943 bound for Bermuda in order to join a convoy at that port.  Forming there, the convoy departed for Casablanca on March 28th.  Arriving in Gibraltar on April 11th, the convoy split up, and the vessel to which the writer was assigned departed for Casablanca together with six other ships.
  2. At about 1535, on April 11th, the writer’s vessel was struck by a torpedo.  The crew assembled on the boat deck and waited for the Captain to give the orders to abandon the ship.  The ship did not appear to be sinking, nevertheless the crew took to the life boats and floated around in the vicinity for some time.
  3. A little while later, after ascertaining that the ship would not sink, the Captain and six other members of the crew returned to her, and the rest of the crew was picked up by U.S. Navy patrol boats.  The MATT W. RANSOM was then taken in tow by Navy tugs and towed to the harbor of Casablanca safely.
  4. The entire crew of the ship then boarded her and proceeded to discharge the cargo.  All hands went right on with their regular duties.
  5. The writer remained in Casablanca for almost three months living aboard the ship until it was finally determined that the ship was not in condition to be sent back to the United States.  The crew was then given transportation back to the U.S. on the SS MARIPOSA departing from Casablanca on June 27th, and arriving in Boston, Mass on July 4th
  6. No lives were lost in the action encountered, and the three Cadet-Midshipmen who were shipmates of the writer were all repatriated at the same time and all were in good health, none the worse off for the experience.  All the Cadet-Midshipman entrained for New York and reported to the District Cadet Supervisor for further orders.