Walter W. BAACK died in Nov. 1943 WWII attack on HMT Rohna
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Walter W. BAACK died in Nov. 1943 WWII attack on HMT Rohna
Are you related to Private Walter W. BAACK, Serial No. 38370636, who served with the 853rd Engineer BN. Avn. Corps of Engineers? If so, do you know how he and over 1,000 soldiers died during World War II? His name appears on a casualty list. I am not related; just sharing this with the hope it reaches his family.
Excerpted from The Rohna Survivors Memorial Association website:
http://www.rohna.org/
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"On November 26, 1943, during WWII, one thousand, one hundred and thirty eight men perished when the HMT Rohna, was attacked from the air and destroyed in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Algeria. Two important but virtually unknown historical events occurred at that time.
It was the first successful "hit" of a merchant vessel at-sea carrying US troops by a German remote-controlled, rocket-boosted bomb, thus giving birth to the "Missile Age", and it resulted in the greatest loss of troops (1015) at sea in U.S. history. Combined with the loss of ship's crew and officers, and three Red Cross workers, more lives were lost than on the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor.
The "hit" was so devastating that the U.S. Government placed a veil of secrecy upon it. The events which followed were so shameful that the secrecy continued for decades until recently, when documents were grudgingly released under pressure of the Freedom of Information Act. The government still does not
acknowledge this tragedy, thus most families of the casualties still do not know the fate of their loved
ones."
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Please read more at the links below and see the CASUALTY list from The ROHNA. The parents of these young men are now gone. Perhaps one of their children or grandchildren, a sibling, cousin or niece/nephew might recognize a name and learn what really happened to their loved one previously thought to be "missing at sea." Our military kept it a secret rather than cloud the "War Effort" with negative reports about high casualties and German successes. Efforts were stalled to disclose information to family members even decades later. The sad truth has come out as the HISTORY Channel and various local news media have reported it. Our Congress officially recognized this battle in 2000. But many family members of these soldiers have yet to hear this story. My husband's family lost an uncle in this battle but were only told that he died off the coast of Africa when his transport ship was attacked. He had served with the 853rd Engineer BN. Avn. Corps of Engineers. His parents went to their graves not knowing the full story. His family only learned of the Rohna's tragic end this past year.
Names, Rank, Serial numbers, Unit Served of CASUALTIES:
http://bellsouthpwp.net/j/f/jfievet/casualty.htm
Or "google" using the advanced search feature to bring up more websites and news stories about the Rohna and the British and U.S. servicemen lost that dark day in November 1943:
http://www.google.com/advanced_search?hl=en
Another link:
http://www.hq.usace.army.mil/cepa/pubs/nov00/story6.htm
Excerpted from The Rohna Survivors Memorial Association website:
http://www.rohna.org/
---------
"On November 26, 1943, during WWII, one thousand, one hundred and thirty eight men perished when the HMT Rohna, was attacked from the air and destroyed in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Algeria. Two important but virtually unknown historical events occurred at that time.
It was the first successful "hit" of a merchant vessel at-sea carrying US troops by a German remote-controlled, rocket-boosted bomb, thus giving birth to the "Missile Age", and it resulted in the greatest loss of troops (1015) at sea in U.S. history. Combined with the loss of ship's crew and officers, and three Red Cross workers, more lives were lost than on the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor.
The "hit" was so devastating that the U.S. Government placed a veil of secrecy upon it. The events which followed were so shameful that the secrecy continued for decades until recently, when documents were grudgingly released under pressure of the Freedom of Information Act. The government still does not
acknowledge this tragedy, thus most families of the casualties still do not know the fate of their loved
ones."
-----------
Please read more at the links below and see the CASUALTY list from The ROHNA. The parents of these young men are now gone. Perhaps one of their children or grandchildren, a sibling, cousin or niece/nephew might recognize a name and learn what really happened to their loved one previously thought to be "missing at sea." Our military kept it a secret rather than cloud the "War Effort" with negative reports about high casualties and German successes. Efforts were stalled to disclose information to family members even decades later. The sad truth has come out as the HISTORY Channel and various local news media have reported it. Our Congress officially recognized this battle in 2000. But many family members of these soldiers have yet to hear this story. My husband's family lost an uncle in this battle but were only told that he died off the coast of Africa when his transport ship was attacked. He had served with the 853rd Engineer BN. Avn. Corps of Engineers. His parents went to their graves not knowing the full story. His family only learned of the Rohna's tragic end this past year.
Names, Rank, Serial numbers, Unit Served of CASUALTIES:
http://bellsouthpwp.net/j/f/jfievet/casualty.htm
Or "google" using the advanced search feature to bring up more websites and news stories about the Rohna and the British and U.S. servicemen lost that dark day in November 1943:
http://www.google.com/advanced_search?hl=en
Another link:
http://www.hq.usace.army.mil/cepa/pubs/nov00/story6.htm