On April 6, 1942 the " S.S. Bienville " was en route from Calcutta, India to Columbo, Ceylon to pick up a load of manganese ore, jute, burlap and general cargo.   The ship had a crew of " 41 " Merchant Mariners.

     Before arriving at their destination the unescorted and unarmed " S.S. Bienville " was attacked by Japanese aircraft from the Japanese carrier Ryujo and was hit at the Number 2 hatch which starting a fire.   While the crew was fighting the fire two more Japanese aircraft attacked the Bienville.

     Then the Japanese Heavy cruiser Chokai shelled and eventually sank the " S.S. Bienville " and in the process destroyed all but "1" of their lifeboats.   The one remaining lifeboat picked up " 24 " of the crew of the ship and after a day at sea landed.   However " 5 " of the crew that were in lifeboat later died of wounds leaving only " 17 " survivors of this attack.

     The following below list was created in the memory of those who "Gave Their All" on the " S.S. Bienville ".   There are personal "online memorials" for each of these honored men that were created for them by using the "Find A Grave" website.   You will see a blue " Yes " behind their names and by clicking on the " Yes " you will see a personal memorial that has been created for them by myself or someone else.

Key to Abbreviations and Notes MM     =  Awarded the " Mariner's Medal " ~ ( Awarded to the Merchant Marines for being wounded, Missing or Killed In Action ) MM *  =  Awarded the " Combat Bar " ~ ( Awarded to those who are under combat conditions ) MM **  =  Awarded the " Combat Star " ~ ( Awarded to those who are forced to abandon ship when attacked or damaged ) PH     =  Awarded the "Purple Heart" ~ ( Awarded to soldiers & sailors for being Wounded and/or Killed in action ) Other Medals  =  Such as Good Conduct Medals, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medals, American Defense Service Medals, etc. " Are Not " included in this listing.   =  Picture of person shown on online memorial   =  Picture of tombstone shown on online memorial Cenotaph  =  A memorial stone only  ~  " OR "  ~  Remains not recovered  ~  " OR "  ~  Interred somewhere unknown. ( www.usmm.org/medals.html )         Quick Link by first letter of Last Name for the " S.S. Bienville " ( Those letters shown below in " Maroon " below had no one on this ship ) [ A ] - [ B ] - [ C ] - [ D ] - [ E ] - [ F ] [ G ] - [ H ] - [ I ] - [ J ] - [ K ] - [ L ] [ M ] - [ N ] - [ O ] - [ P ] - [ Q ] - [ R ] [ S ] - [ T ] - [ U ] - [ V ] - [ W ] - [ X ] - [ Y ] - [ Z ] Last Names starting with " A " ~ " There Were None ! "   Last Name, First Name, M.I.          Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos Military Rank Branch of Service State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing Cemetery / Memorial  For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes "   Berman,  Saul H.           MM ** ~ Off India ~ n/a Chief Mate " Ship's Crew " U.S. Merchant Marine Louisiana Missing In Action April 6, 1942 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Borregaard,  Niels L. M.           MM ** ~ Off India ~ n/a Fireman / Watertender " Ship's Crew " U.S. Merchant Marine New Jersey Missing In Action April 6, 1942 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Byers,  Eldwyn L.           MM ** ~ Off India ~ n/a Fireman / Watertender " Ship's Crew " U.S. Merchant Marine North Carolina Missing In Action April 6, 1942 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Last Name, First Name, M.I.          Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos Military Rank Branch of Service State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing Cemetery / Memorial  For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes "   Cassell,  John L.           MM ** ~ Off India ~ n/a Wiper " Ship's Crew " U.S. Merchant Marine New York Missing In Action April 6, 1942 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Chisholm,  Amos           MM ** ~ Off India ~ n/a Cook " Ship's Crew " U.S. Merchant Marine Florida Missing In Action April 6, 1942 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Crouse,  Charles           MM ** ~ Off India ~ n/a Fireman / Watertender " Ship's Crew " U.S. Merchant Marine New Jersey Missing In Action April 6, 1942 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Crutchfield,  Clarence A.           MM ** ~ Off India ~ n/a First Engineer " Ship's Crew " U.S. Merchant Marine Alabama Missing In Action April 6, 1942 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Last Name, First Name, M.I.          Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos Military Rank Branch of Service State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing Cemetery / Memorial  For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes "   Dominguez,  Eugene T.           MM ** ~ Off India ~ n/a Able-Bodied Seaman " Ship's Crew " U.S. Merchant Marine Florida Missing In Action April 6, 1942 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Last Name, First Name, M.I.          Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos Military Rank Branch of Service State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing Cemetery / Memorial  For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes "   Elshick,  Jesse J.           MM ** ~ Off India ~ n/a Able-Bodied Seaman " Ship's Crew " U.S. Merchant Marine Texas Missing In Action April 6, 1942 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Last Name, First Name, M.I.          Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos Military Rank Branch of Service State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing Cemetery / Memorial  For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes "   Ferguson,  Lionel W.           MM ** ~ Off India ~ n/a Messman " Ship's Crew " U.S. Merchant Marine New York Missing In Action April 6, 1942 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Filomeno,  Ismael           MM ** ~ Off India ~ n/a Messman " Ship's Crew " U.S. Merchant Marine New York Missing In Action April 6, 1942 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Last Name, First Name, M.I.          Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos Military Rank Branch of Service State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing Cemetery / Memorial  For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes "   Gourdier,  John C.           MM ** ~ Off India ~ n/a Able-Bodied Seaman " Ship's Crew " U.S. Merchant Marine New Jersey Missing In Action April 6, 1942 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Last Name, First Name, M.I.          Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos Military Rank Branch of Service State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing Cemetery / Memorial  For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes "   Holbrook,  Richard H.           MM ** ~ Berhampur, India ~ n/a Engine Cadet " Ship's Crew " U.S. Merchant Marine New York Died Of Wounds April 11, 1942 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph Last Names starting with " I " ~ " There Were None ! "   Last Name, First Name, M.I.          Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos Military Rank Branch of Service State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing Cemetery / Memorial  For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes "   Jaycox,  Floyd S., Sr.           MM ** ~ Off India ~ n/a Third Mate " Ship's Crew " U.S. Merchant Marine Mississippi Missing In Action April 6, 1942 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Johansen,  Karsten           MM ** ~ Off India ~ n/a Oiler " Ship's Crew " U.S. Merchant Marine New York Missing In Action April 6, 1942 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Last Name, First Name, M.I.          Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos Military Rank Branch of Service State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing Cemetery / Memorial  For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes "   Kline,  Robert           MM ** ~ Off India ~ n/a Ordinary Seaman " Ship's Crew " U.S. Merchant Marine Louisiana Missing In Action April 6, 1942 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph Last Names starting with " L " ~ " There Were None ! "   Last Name, First Name, M.I.          Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos Military Rank Branch of Service State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing Cemetery / Memorial  For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes "   McKee,  William W.           MM ** ~ Off India ~ n/a Able-Bodied Seaman " Ship's Crew " U.S. Merchant Marine Alabama Missing In Action April 6, 1942 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   McLaren,  Joseph D.           MM ** ~ Off India ~ n/a Steward " Ship's Crew " U.S. Merchant Marine Pennsylvania Missing In Action April 6, 1942 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Mich,  Anthony J.           MM ** ~ Off India ~ n/a Able-Bodied Seaman " Ship's Crew " U.S. Merchant Marine New York Missing In Action April 6, 1942 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph Last Names starting with " N " ~ " There Were None ! " Last Names starting with " O " ~ " There Were None ! " Last Names starting with " P " ~ " There Were None ! " Last Names starting with " Q " ~ " There Were None ! " Last Names starting with " R " ~ " There Were None ! "   Last Name, First Name, M.I.          Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos Military Rank Branch of Service State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing Cemetery / Memorial  For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes "   Sherris,  Eliot I.           MM ** ~ Off India ~ n/a Ordinary Seaman " Ship's Crew " U.S. Merchant Marine New York Died Of Wounds April 8, 1942 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Stoltz,  Einar H.           MM ** ~ Off India ~ n/a Second Mate " Ship's Crew " U.S. Merchant Marine New York Missing In Action April 6, 1942 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Sutherland,  William C.           MM ** ~ Off India ~ n/a Bosun " Ship's Crew " U.S. Merchant Marine New York Missing In Action April 6, 1942 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Last Name, First Name, M.I.         Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos Military Rank Branch of Service State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing Cemetery / Memorial  For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes "   Teegarden,  Kenneth C.           MM ** ~ Off India ~ n/a Second Engineer " Ship's Crew " U.S. Merchant Marine Louisiana Missing In Action April 6, 1942 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Torra,  Rocco           MM ** ~ Off India ~  Radio Officer " Ship's Crew " U.S. Merchant Marine Massachusetts Died Of Wounds April 9, 1942 National Memorial Cemetery Honolulu, HI " Yes " Cenotaph Last Names starting with " U " ~ " There Were None ! " Last Names starting with " V " ~ " There Were None ! " Last Names starting with " W " ~ " There Were None ! " Last Names starting with " X " ~ " There Were None ! " Last Names starting with " Y " ~ " There Were None ! " Last Names starting with " Z " ~ " There Were None ! " Email any questions or comments to: Russ Pickett ( russpickde@comcast.net )