Merchant Marines - Family History & Genealogy Message Board

The Zamalek

AnnRoots50 — 2013-03-27 07:42:20Z

Hello I wonder can anyone help. I am looking for a newspaper article written in WW2 about the rescue ship The Zamalek. The piece was written when she sailed up the Clyde during the war and it was titled, as far as can be remembered, "The Little Boat the Sailed Through Hell"
Any help would be gratefully received Thank you

William Asa Carter crew mates 1944 Merchant Marines

sharonjackson83 — 2013-03-13 19:35:52Z

I am searching for crew memebers with my father on the Liberty Ship William Asa Carter in 1945. He is 85 yrs old and want to contact other Merchant Marines that were on that ship.

Trying to find my Grandad.....

tylergib95 — 2013-03-11 20:06:04Z

Hello, I do hope someone could help me here.

Im researching my family tree, specifically on my mums side at the moment and the most important person I need info is elusive.

His name is William Gurr. He was in the merchant navy in 1949,(as it says so on my Mums birth certificate)probably born around 1920s. He married my Nan in 1945 in Retford, Notts so he on record somewhere. My Mum knows only his name about him, no DoB, residence, even if he is alive still.

If anyone could help me out with this search, I would be very appreciative!!

Thank you, Ty

Re: Looking for old shipmate

gmshellyv — 2013-01-08 17:31:05Z

Hi I just read you were on the Sinclair Rubilene! My grandfather was Captain Vosloh on that ship and many others. I was just wondering if you were on there when he was there. Thanks so much.

Re: sinking of the Triglav 1942

stevebarkwill — 2013-01-04 20:14:14Z

My Father was a royal navy d.e.m.s gunner on the Triglav when she was sunk.He told me that when the ship went down he managed to get in 1 lifeboat and another d.e.m.s gunner was in the other.Although the boats were tied togather they broke apart during the night and the other boat was never seen again. 5 or 6 days later he could,nt quiet remember they were picked up by a Spanish fishing trawler on its way home, this in turn was stopped by a British gunboat out of Gibralter and the survivors were taken off,my Dad was back in the war. One other thing he rememberd was the Captain of the u.boat which surfaced after the ship sunk was wearing a big south American sombrero hat,after some questions he had some cigaretes and water passed over to the survivers. I hope this has been of some help.

Re: SS John A Poor

hilzak47 — 2012-11-13 21:33:44Z

Hello Shirley, my Grandfather was John Bragg the Chief Engineer on the 'John A Poor' & was also killed, what is the name of your friends father who was on the ship? I am trying to find any information about the crew & I hope your friend doesn't mind, has she any photo's?
Hope to hear from you,
Hilda

Re: Ship called," The Cabins," WW2, (McConnell)

DecMay — 2012-11-13 04:38:52Z

Looks like the ship was renamed, it was an oil tanker:
"SS The Cabins renamed William T. Steele"
http://www.marylandsilver.com/title26.htm
http://www.marylandsilver.com/books9.htm

History of the ship:
http://www.t2tanker.org/display-tankers-test.php?t2table=ala...

Picture of a same type tanker:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T2_tanker also click on link at bottom of List of names and The Cabins is in the T section.

You might try the SIU-Seafarers International Union to see if they have an archive and any old records of members. They had the strike in 1947.
http://www.seafarers.org/aboutthesiu/phrem.asp

Re: SS John A Poor

TERRIYOUNG92 — 2012-10-07 01:33:11Z

Gina, I just sent a bunch of documents from the SS John A. Poor that my dad kept. Terri

Re: SS John A Poor

appliedecology — 2012-10-04 00:50:33Z

Thank you Terri for your reply. I'm not sure how I missed this so many months ago. I would love to see copies of anything you have - especially the letter from my great aunt. And the menu! Have you put any of that stuff on his page in your family tree? I can look at it there or you can email me at appliedecology@gmail.com.

Donald M. Adams

Contribution — 2012-08-09 14:17:13Z

THE VILLAGES, FL: Donald M. Adams, age 88, passed away Friday, July 20, 2012 surrounded by his loving family at Cornerstone Hospice, The Villages, Florida.

He was born February 19, 1924 in Marion, Ohio to the late Leslie and Vergie Adams.

Donald served in World War II in the Merchant Marines transporting supplies to 14 foreign countries from 1943-1946. After returning from the war, he worked with his father in The Leslie E. Adams Lumber Company, and later took over the farming operation in LaRue and Marion County. With a gift for skilled carpentry he was the owner of Adams Cabinet Shop building homes and custom cabinets in the Marion area.

Mr. Adams is survived by his beloved wife of 64 years, Betty; son, Larry (Carol) Adams of Dublin, Ohio; daughter, Rebecca (Larry) France of Denver, Colorado; grandchildren, Steven (Kristi) Adams of Wisconsin, Stephanie (Dan) Ward of Marion, Brian (Melissa) France and Cory (Jessica) France both of Colorado; 13 great grandchildren; sisters, Loretta Murphy and Janet Kramp both of Marion and Martha (Dean) Dillery of Michigan.

Donald was preceded in death by brother, Frederick Adams and sister, Reva.

Funeral Services will be held Wednesday August 15, 2012 at 1:00 PM at the LaRue United Methodist Church. Officiating will be the Rev. Riley Powell. Burial in the LaRue Cemetery. .

Remembrances and Condolences may be expressed at www.stofcheck-ballinger.com.

Re: Dibrell Lewis Brewer

DecMay — 2012-07-22 00:10:29Z

He served on individual ships for various shipping companies. He may not have a "Service Record" like a member of the Military that keeps track of all assignments. There are Crew and Passenger Lists at the NARA. Some Book form and some Microfilm. A LDS Family History Center may also have them.
The subscription genealogy site I use, Ancestry.com, has some transcribed and images of pages online of Crew lists. Doing a quick search I see he has 22 entries listed in "California Passenger and Crew Lists, 1882-1957". 8 entries in "Honolulu, Hawaii, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1900-1959". 5 entries "Seattle Passenger and Crew Lists, 1882-1957". 1 entry "New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957".

He started sailing "in service" about March 1944 (arrived Sept 1944 on USS Mission Capistrano to Hawaii from Marshall Islands. Sailed from San Francisco CA. June 14, 1944, stated "in service" 7 mos.) Of all the entries I found the last seems to be dated 1958 which is about the time limit of the databases online. There might be more for him on other crew lists yet to be transcribed for online access.

See if your local Library has Ancestry or local LDS Family History Center or subscribe yourself.

This should also help you:
http://www.usmm.org/index.html#anchor252856

Re: James Oglethorpe Crew

PWelsh1972 — 2012-06-14 14:53:29Z

Mr. Hilliar,

I posted this subject originally back almost 10 years ago. Since that time I have changed emails. I also have done alot of research on this ship and its crew. My Great Uncle was Thomas Welsh, who died when this ship was sunk. I have a photo of the ship, and of him. Along with many newspaper articles concerning this matter. I also have a telegram from the War Dept. informing my Great Grandmother that he was lost at sea. Please let me know if I can be of any help.

Re: USS Solomon Navy

mcclayra — 2012-06-01 23:35:36Z

I am interested in the picture if still available.

Dibrell Lewis Brewer

jmsemok — 2012-05-17 17:30:56Z

served in the Merchant Marines from mid 1940s to 1971
Looking for his service record

Re: James Oglethorpe Crew

bhilliar — 2012-05-17 14:18:47Z

Mr Williamson
I am with the Bandy Heritage Center of Dalton State college in Dalton GA. We are developing a travelling exhibit about Georgia's role in WWII. The SSJames Oglethorpe features prominently in our exhibit due to its connectiion to the Savannah shipyards. If you have any info especially photographs of the James Oglethorpe you can share it would be most appreciated. Please contact me at bhilliar@daltonstate.edu

Re: SS Okanogan

ERhodes1135 — 2012-05-11 03:23:13Z

Ed. Just google USS Okanogan and you will find a wealth of info about the ship including pictures. Good luck. Don

SS Okanogan

EdMcConnell68 — 2012-05-10 21:15:50Z

Searching for photo of this merchant marine ship. There is a scale model of this ship at the Bremerton Naval Station at Bremerton, Washington State.

looking for Shipmates of Louis B. Smith, Served on Zebulon B. Vance

ErnestWebb13 — 2012-05-09 14:18:33Z

My father, Louis B. Smith was a career Merchant Marine. He served on the Zebulon B. Vance during WWII. He shipped for part of his time out of the port of Baltimore, Maryland. I understand that his family roots were in Texas.
He met my mother as a war bride on the Vance and later married her. They separated and later divorced. I have not seen or heard of him since. I believe he may have retired to Florida and have died in the Jacksonville area in 2006.

Anyone who may have known him or served with him in the Merchant Marines, I would like to have any information you might share. Thanks for helping.

Ship called," The Cabins," WW2, (McConnell)

EdMcConnell68 — 2012-04-28 23:27:26Z

My dad served aboard this ship during World War 2. I don't know anything about the ship but would like to get a photo if possible. I've tried the Merchant Marine web site, no luck there. My dad was in the Merchant Marines 1943-1947, and quit when they went on strike in New York,New York. He said after a couple of weeks of walking a picket line he decided to quit and hitch hiked home to Brewster, WA. His name was Eugene Dale McConnell. He always went by Dale. He died in 2003 and is buried in the family plot at Beaver Creek (Silver) Cemetery south of Twisp,WA. Okanogan County. Thank you in advance for any information.

Re: SS John A Poor

TERRIYOUNG92 — 2012-04-01 01:07:36Z

Gina,
My grandfather William Brown was on the ship. I have a letter sent to my grandmother from Estelle Dulac,Francis's sister. I also have alot of other letters that were sent to my grandmom. I have alot of original papers from the war department and the western union telegram informing my grandmother that he was missing and presumed dead. I have some letters/postcards that my grandfather wrote to his mother. There is a christmas day menu from 1943 (my grandfather was the chief cook). Let me know if you want any information and I'll send it to your e-mail.

Terri Brown-Young

Re: SS Robert E Lee

nikarico — 2012-03-07 17:30:01Z

My uncle was on the ship. He went under the name Frank Duane. Not really sure what the story was for the reason he did not use his real last name which was Neumar. Have heard several stories but continue to wonder. Would be great if anyone knew him and could tell me anything about him.

Re: Looking for crew on SS William Eaton and others

bechw1 — 2012-02-13 22:58:33Z

Hi, My dad, Daniel Walsh was the Purser/Medical officer on the the Henry J Raymond and the Uriah Rose from 1942-46. He died in 2000. I don't think I can help you with photos of the crew, but I do remember his stories about Bombay and how the barefoot native workmen would come onto the deck of the ship and remove the brass scupper covers with their toes, flip them up and hide them in their robes even though it was well over 100F in the shade!
If I find any photos, I'll let you know.
Patricia

Re: arthur mccabe

Champlain9 — 2012-02-04 17:44:35Z

In the UK it is the Ministry of Defence, in the USA it is the Natioanl Archives in Missouri you need to contact.

Regards

Re: SS Robert E Lee

clcanton196 — 2012-02-03 19:35:45Z

Hello,

My Grandfather, John A. Brockman was abord the Robert E. Lee, I have heard the story of this of her going down many time in great detail. Unfortunately I cannot help with anyone he might have known. He passed away 2 years ago. I do know when the ship went down he gave his life vest to a woman and her child and used debris from the ship to stay afloat, as did many others, until rescued. He then joined the US Navy and spent the remainder of the war in the South Pacific.
I have recently found a site that has some information of people abord the ship and there is also a link to send information of additional passengers.

http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship1981.html

If I might be able to help in any other way my email is clcanton196@gmail.com
Casey Canton

Re: SS Robert E Lee

kmyarbrough — 2012-01-24 22:57:51Z

I think my father may have been on the Robert E. Lee. How did you get the passenger list? I have looked for with no luck. Thanks for your help.

arthur mccabe

patriciamcquillan29 — 2012-01-22 16:57:40Z

looking for service record of my father in merchant marines, WW2

Re: Dunkirk Evacuation

Champlain9 — 2012-01-22 14:35:03Z

Possibly the Ministry of Defence or the Imperial War Museum
would hold any crew lists?

Re: LCI 93

DecMay — 2011-12-20 00:54:43Z

Google USS LCI 93

LCI 93

pattiw290 — 2011-12-16 22:39:30Z

Looking for info on the WWII ship LCI 93. It seems that ancestry has not posted the muster rolls for the Coast Guard. Does anyone know how to find them here?

Re: Edward E. Cramer, what ship/ships did he serve on?

bakerhen — 2011-12-06 21:39:34Z

Larry thank you. I only hope that without having any specific service information that they will be able to help.

I wonder why merchant marine fellows would be listed in the "Immigration & Travel" lists? Curious.

Thank you.
Marsha

Re: Edward E. Cramer, what ship/ships did he serve on?

LDUZ2 — 2011-12-06 15:15:11Z

The merchant marine website:
http://www.usmm.org
has the information needed to obtain his service records.

Also search for him in the crew lists in the "Immigration & Travel" search, especially the California passenger lists & Honolulu Arrival lists during the war years, i have on occasion found a merchant marine listed in them.

Larry

Edward E. Cramer, what ship/ships did he serve on?

bakerhen — 2011-12-06 01:44:48Z

Hi everyone!

My Dad, Edward E. Cramer, served in the Merchant Marine during the WWII era, but I don't have any idea which ship or ships he served on. Does anyone know how I would go about finding this out?

I really don't know much about his service time, except that my parents were living in the Portland Oregon area during that time. I do know that whatever ship or ships he served on, they did go to the Phillipines and Hawaii. I don't even know how long he was in the MM.

I truly wished that I would have asked SOOO MANY MORE questions of my parents when they were alive and their memories were still strong and could have answered my questions.

If there is anything that you can do to help me with this I would really appreciate it very much.

Thank you in advance.
Marsha

Re: James Oglethorpe Crew

PWelsh1972 — 2011-10-19 01:56:20Z

Hi Ron! Please note my new email adress: welshrepairs@yahoo.com. I would love information on my G Uncle: Thomas Welsh.

Here in Savannah a WW2 Monument was just erected for the men who died during WW2. His name is listed on the wall, and I also bought several bricks to help fund this project.

If anyone has any information on my G Uncle, I would really appreciate it!

Thanks!

Patrick
Savannah, GA

Re: SS John A Poor

appliedecology — 2011-09-14 16:03:07Z

My great uncle, Francis Wallace Dulac, a Coast Guard veteran and the Master of the John A. Poor, went down with the ship when it sank. He was about 36 years old. My mother was in college at the time, and she said other family members might have known the details of the ship's sinking, but all she knew at the time was that her Uncle Frank was lost at sea after U-boats torpedoed his ship. My family has no pictures of Frank - most were destroyed in a fire, along with his military commendations - so I would love to see any old photos of the crew or the boat or related information.

-Gina

Re: SS Robert E Lee

JoanKRinaldi — 2011-07-31 01:50:12Z

Hi Kath,

I'm sorry for the loss of your grandfather in such a tragic disaster. I just discovered a first cousin of my grandfather was also on the SS Robert E Lee. I found his name, Francis FitzGerald, on the passenger list. Is there an official list of casualties from the disaster? There was no notation next to his name, as there were for others, i.e. "missing" or "hospital."

Thanks in advance.

Lyn

Re: Dunkirk Evacuation

JeffH01 — 2011-05-30 00:23:16Z

From http://www.cwgc.org/

Name: LYON, JOHN E. Initials: J E
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Pantryman Regiment/Service: Merchant Navy
Unit Text: S.S. Mona's Queen (Douglas, Isle of Man).
Age: 56
Date of Death: 29/05/1940
Additional information: Husband of Janet Lyon, of Tue Brook, Liverpool
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Tower Hill Memorial, Panel 71.

At the start of the evacuation the vessel was the first to return from Dunkirk with rescued soldiers. On 29th May she was carrying water for the men on the beaches when she hit a mine. She’s mention in several books with sections online; go to http://books.google.com/ and enter dunkirk mona's queen

Enjoy

Baden Germany

kaywams — 2011-05-18 05:04:18Z

Face book has a new link to Baden Germany for those who have been stationed there. I was there in 1987 -1991. most people writing are from the 60's it is a nice site to look at with people posting there past pictures.sure brings back memories.check it out.

Re: WWII VETS/ Merchant Ships -Alfred E.Smith, Edward Burlason,USO

kaywams — 2011-05-18 04:59:53Z

researching for my friend Linda. not much to go on.her grandfather was from europe he was blown up and his name was Alfred Smith. same name as the ship you were on.she wants to find his grave. we live in Canada.my husband was a military soldier retired from brain injury only turning 50.

Re: WWII VETS/ Merchant Ships -Alfred E.Smith, Edward Burlason,USO

kaywams — 2011-05-18 04:59:32Z

Dunkirk Evacuation

JuanMolyneux — 2011-03-14 09:56:33Z

Hi

Does anyone know if crew lists are available for the merchant navy ships that were involved in the Dunkirk evacuation?

I am looking for information on a John Edward Lyon who I believe died during the evacuation when the ship he was serving on was sunk.

John Edward Lyon was most likely on the "Fenella" or the "Mona's Queen" both of which were Isle of Man Steam Packet vessels.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Juan

Re: Merchant Marines

LDUZ2 — 2011-02-17 00:24:08Z

This page has the info for getting Merchant Marines service records:
American Merchant Marine at War Records and Contact Information
http://www.usmm.org/contact.html#contact3

Merchant Marines

howin674 — 2011-02-16 23:51:21Z

My grandfather was a merchant marine.I do not know the year for sure but he died in a accident in 1946.I have photo of him with his uniform on but cannot find his record.His name was Thomas Frank Tallent)He was from Yancey county North Carolina.He was stationed in New York for a while.Thats all i know.I hope some one can help me find his record.
Thank you.

Re: 2 Liberty Ships damaged by Kamikaze Nov or Dec 1944 carrying 345th BG, 499th BS, Army Air Corp personnel

DecMay — 2011-02-09 01:41:13Z

Website that lists WWII Merchant ships sunk or damaged. Listed by yr or place. Link to place: Philippines:
http://www.usmm.org/pacific.html#anchor447877

Main website to do other searches.
http://www.usmm.org/

Re: Wendell Hutchinson

DecMay — 2011-02-09 01:30:33Z

You have this posted in the Merchant Marine Message Board, then you state he was part of the "marines", which is a branch of U.S. service, U.S. Marine Corps connected with the U.S. Navy. The USMC is not to be confused with being in the "Merchant Marines". Bring "posted" implies being in USMC. The Merchant Marines where aboard ships and never "posted" to a port and Penley is no where near a port.

Link to Merchant Marine research help:
http://www.usmm.org/

U S Military Service Records are not public records and available to family and next of kin only. Now I seem to recall a group to help foreign born children of U.S. Service men locate information. http://www.gitrace.org/

NARA has US Service Records: http://www.archives.gov
/veterans/

I find a Wendell R. Hutchinson born abt 1922 in PA in the 1930 U.S. Census in Allegheny Co, Pennsylvania and there is one that is born 1921 and died in FL 1987, card issued in PA. in SSDI. http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com/

FL Death Index has Wendell Robert Hutchinson died in Broward County FL so look for an obituary to see if mentions miltary service.

There is a Robert Wendell Hutchinson that was inducted into the Army by the draft board 1942 according to historical newspaper article "New Castle News" of Pennsylvania April 27th 1942.

Enlistment of a Robert W. Hutchinson in PA 1942
http://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtc...

Main NARA Enlistment website:
http://aad.archives.gov/aad/series-list.jsp?cat=WR26

GM3C Max E. Biela 1921-1945 Liberty ship USS William S Thayer

sudown — 2011-02-03 00:03:39Z

Lost at sea, 30 Apr 1944 William S. Thayer 7,176 torpeoded by U-307 Friedrich-Georg Herrle
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=63...
Please see Max E. Biela's memorial page complete with newspaper article notifying his widowed mother and postcards of the submarine on watch for Liberty ships... please click on the photos and read the captions to get the full impact.

Re: query

ycaso77 — 2011-01-02 20:15:06Z

The abbreviation stands for His Majesty's Motor Launch #857.
I'm not sure if you're looking for the 1st or 2nd World War period, but here's a couple of links regarding them-
http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic...

http://www.motorlaunchpatrol.net/written_accounts/history_bo...

query

hanovergardens10 — 2011-01-02 16:52:06Z

naval ratings
can you tell me what regiment this is H.M.M.L.857

Re: James Oglethorpe Crew

flroales1 — 2010-12-31 14:28:02Z

here is a link to information about Frank L Roales http://home.ionet.net/~heros/FLR.htm

Re: James Oglethorpe Crew

flroales1 — 2010-12-30 18:22:01Z

Frank was in the US Navy, at the time of his death he was a signalman "Armed Guard" onboard the merchant ship "SS James Ogelthorpe".

She was a "Liberty Ship" hull #0341 named after the founder of Georgia and was owned by War Shipping Administration. The operator was the South Atlantic SS Co. and the gross tonnage was 7176 with a draft of 26' 8". Her armament consisted of 1- 4": 1- 3": and 8- 20mm guns. She was the first ship constructed in Southeastern Shipbuilding Corp. shipyard Savannah Ga. The keel was laid in1942 she had a Clark Bros. steam engine and was delivered on February 13th 1943.

Her first voyage was also her last. She was part of convoy HX-229 (#111) that left New York on March 8th 1943 bound for Liverpool carrying general and military stores. Which included 8000 tons steel, cotton, food, aircraft, and tractors. She traveled in station #93 in the 42-ship convoy. Was damaged by U-758 (Mancesk) at 18:47hrs. March 16th 1943 while making 12 knots when a torpedo struck the starboard side at the forward section of the #2 hold. This was at location 50.00 north x 36.00 west (400 miles SSE of Cape Farvell Greenland); the vessel began settling by the head with her rudder stuck and a starboard list. A fire started in the #1 hold, and the crew extinguished it in 15 min. The master (Albert W. Long) did not order the engines secured, and as she made large circles to the port at 8 knots, 44 of the 8 officers, 36 men, 26 armed guards, and 4 passengers, abandoned ship in 2 boats. The #5 boat's fall was cut prematurely and spilled it's occupants into the sea, drowning 13 men. Another man died when he fell into the water while trying to get into the #6 boat. The British corvette HMS Pennywort (K-11) rescued the 30 men in boat #6 and later landed them in Londonderry Ireland. Three officers and 10 men of the merchant crew, 2 passengers, and 15 armed guards survived. The master and the 30 men who remanded on the ship perished when the U-91 (Walkerling) fired a coup de grace shot on the 17th and sank her at location 50.38 north x 34.46 . He was on board
verified by a suvivor who met him onboard a Mr. Irwin Daylen.

References:
The Liberty Ships:
U.S. Merchant Vessel War casualties of WWII: Robert M Browning Jr.
The Summaries of statements by survivors. Operational archives, Naval Historical center, Washington, DC.
War Action Casualty Reports, US Coast guard, Coast Guard Historian's office, Washington, DC.
The US Coast Guard, War causality Shipping Reports 1941 - 45, Record group 26, National Archives, Washington DC.
War Journals of U-boats and U-boat commands, Record group 242, National Archives, Washington DC.
The Critical Convoy battles of March 1943; The battle for HX-229 / SC 123
by Jurgen Rohwer
Axis submarine Successes 1939-1945
by Jurgen Rohwer

Re: SS Malama

swtpamie — 2010-12-17 02:19:15Z

My dad was on the SS Malama when it was bombed. He survived the Japanese prison camp and died in 1978 of coronary artery disease. I have some acounts what are you looking for?
Contact:
swtpamie@yahoo.com