The steam tanker " S.S. Bienville " was built in 1921 by the Merchant Shipbuilding Corporation, Chester, Pennsylvania for the Westinghouse Electric & Mfg. Company.

         On April 6, 1942 the " 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 " 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 " 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 they landed.   However " 5 " of the crew that were in the 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.

MM     =  Awarded the " Mariner's Medal "
               ( Awarded for being wounded, Missing or Killed In Action )

MM *   =  Awarded the " Combat Bar ( Ribbon ) "
               ( Awarded to those who served under combat conditions )

MM **  =  Awarded the " Combat Star "
                ( Awarded to those who are forced to abandon ship when attacked or damaged )

PMM   =  Awarded the " Mariner's Prisoner of War Medal "
               ( Awarded to Mariner's held as prisoners of war during World War II )

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.

An " n/a " in the " Photo, Awards, or Notes Area " means that they are not available for that Mariner, Soldier or Sailor .....

Cenotaph  =  A memorial stone only  ~  " OR "  ~  Remains not recovered  ~  " OR "  ~  Interred somewhere unknown.

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 Lost ! "

Last Name, First Name, M.I.             Awards  ~  Place Of Passing  ~  Photos             Notes ~ ( Only If Available )	Military Rank	Branch of Service	State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing	Cemetery / Memorial	For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes "
Berman,  Saul Harold           MM ** ~ Off India ~ n/a	Chief Mate	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	Louisiana " Missing In Action " April 6, 1942	" Not Found "	" Yes " Cenotaph
Borregaard,  Niels L. M.           MM ** ~ Off India ~ n/a	Fireman / Watertender	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	New Jersey " Missing In Action " April 6, 1942	" Not Found "	" Yes " Cenotaph
Byers,  Eldwyn Lambert           MM ** ~ Off India ~ n/a           " Family Link Included "	Fireman / Watertender	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	North Carolina " Missing In Action " April 6, 1942	" Not Found "	" Yes " Cenotaph

Last Name, First Name, M.I.             Awards  ~  Place Of Passing  ~  Photos             Notes ~ ( Only If Available )	Military Rank	Branch of Service	State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing	Cemetery / Memorial	For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes "
Cassell,  John Leonard           MM ** ~ Off India ~ n/a	Wiper	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	New York " Missing In Action " April 6, 1942	" Not Found "	" Yes " Cenotaph
Chisholm,  Amos           MM ** ~ Off India ~ n/a	Cook	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	Florida " Missing In Action " April 6, 1942	" Not Found "	" Yes " Cenotaph
Crouse,  Charles           MM ** ~ Off India ~ n/a	Fireman / Watertender	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	New Jersey " Missing In Action " April 6, 1942	" Not Found "	" Yes " Cenotaph
Crutchfield,  Clarence Alvin           MM ** ~ Off India ~ n/a	First Engineer	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	Alabama " Missing In Action " April 6, 1942	" Not Found "	" Yes " Cenotaph

Last Name, First Name, M.I.             Awards  ~  Place Of Passing  ~  Photos             Notes ~ ( Only If Available )	Military Rank	Branch of Service	State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing	Cemetery / Memorial	For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes "
Dominguez,  Eugene Thomas           MM ** ~ Off India ~ N/A           " Family Link Included "	Able-Bodied Seaman	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	Florida " Missing In Action " April 6, 1942	" Not Found "	" Yes " Cenotaph

Last Name, First Name, M.I.             Awards  ~  Place Of Passing  ~  Photos             Notes ~ ( Only If Available )	Military Rank	Branch of Service	State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing	Cemetery / Memorial	For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes "
Elshick,  Jesse John           MM ** ~ Off India ~            " Family Link Included "	Able-Bodied Seaman	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	Texas " Missing In Action " April 6, 1942	" Not Found "	" Yes " Cenotaph

Last Name, First Name, M.I.             Awards  ~  Place Of Passing  ~  Photos             Notes ~ ( Only If Available )	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 " Merchant Marine	New York " Missing In Action " April 6, 1942	" Not Found "	" Yes " Cenotaph
Filomeno,  Ismael           MM ** ~ Off India ~ n/a	Messman	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	New York " Missing In Action " April 6, 1942	" Not Found "	" Yes " Cenotaph

Last Name, First Name, M.I.             Awards  ~  Place Of Passing  ~  Photos             Notes ~ ( Only If Available )	Military Rank	Branch of Service	State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing	Cemetery / Memorial	For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes "
Gourdier,  John Charles           MM ** ~ Off India ~ n/a	Able-Bodied Seaman	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	New Jersey " Missing In Action " April 6, 1942	" Not Found "	" Yes " Cenotaph

Last Name, First Name, M.I.             Awards  ~  Place Of Passing  ~  Photos             Notes ~ ( Only If Available )	Military Rank	Branch of Service	State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing	Cemetery / Memorial	For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes "
Holbrook,  Richard Homer           MM ** ~ Berhampur, India ~ N/A           " Family Link Included "	Engine Cadet	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	New York " Died Of Wounds " April 11, 1942	" Not Found "	" Yes " Cenotaph

Last Names starting with " I "  ~  " There Were None Lost ! "

Last Name, First Name, M.I.             Awards  ~  Place Of Passing  ~  Photos             Notes ~ ( Only If Available )	Military Rank	Branch of Service	State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing	Cemetery / Memorial	For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes "
Jaycox,  Floyd Stephen, Sr.           MM ** ~ Off India ~ N/A           " Family Link Included "	Third Mate	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	Mississippi " Missing In Action " April 6, 1942	" Not Found "	" Yes " Cenotaph
Johansen,  Karsten           MM ** ~ Off India ~ n/a	Oiler	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	New York " Missing In Action " April 6, 1942	" Not Found "	" Yes " Cenotaph

Last Name, First Name, M.I.             Awards  ~  Place Of Passing  ~  Photos             Notes ~ ( Only If Available )	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 " Merchant Marine	Louisiana " Missing In Action " April 6, 1942	" Not Found "	" Yes " Cenotaph

Last Names starting with " L "  ~  " There Were None Lost ! "

Last Name, First Name, M.I.             Awards  ~  Place Of Passing  ~  Photos             Notes ~ ( Only If Available )	Military Rank	Branch of Service	State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing	Cemetery / Memorial	For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes "
McKee,  William Woolworth           MM ** ~ Off India ~ N/A           " Family Link Included "	Able-Bodied Seaman	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	Alabama " Missing In Action " April 6, 1942	" Not Found "	" Yes " Cenotaph
McLaren,  Joseph Donald           MM ** ~ Off India ~ N/A	Steward	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	Pennsylvania " Missing In Action " April 6, 1942	" Not Found "	" Yes " Cenotaph
Mich,  Anthony John           MM ** ~ Off India ~ N/A	Able-Bodied Seaman	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	New York " Missing In Action " April 6, 1942	" Not Found "	" Yes " Cenotaph

Last Names starting with " N "  ~  " There Were None Lost ! "

Last Names starting with " O "  ~  " There Were None Lost ! "

Last Names starting with " P "  ~  " There Were None Lost ! "

Last Names starting with " Q "  ~  " There Were None Lost ! "

Last Names starting with " R "  ~  " There Were None Lost ! "

Last Name, First Name, M.I.             Awards  ~  Place Of Passing  ~  Photos             Notes ~ ( Only If Available )	Military Rank	Branch of Service	State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing	Cemetery / Memorial	For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes "
Sherris,  Eliot Ivan           MM ** ~ Off India ~ N/A	Ordinary Seaman	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	New York " Died Of Wounds " April 8, 1942	" Not Found "	" Yes " Cenotaph
Stoltz,  Einar Holck           MM ** ~ Off India ~ N/A	Second Mate	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	New York " Missing In Action " April 6, 1942	" Not Found "	" Yes " Cenotaph
Sutherland,  William Charles           MM ** ~ Off India ~ N/A	Bosun	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	New York " Missing In Action " April 6, 1942	" Not Found "	" Yes " Cenotaph

Last Name, First Name, M.I.             Awards  ~  Place Of Passing  ~  Photos             Notes ~ ( Only If Available )	Military Rank	Branch of Service	State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing	Cemetery / Memorial	For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes "
Teegarden,  Kenneth Crawford           MM ** ~ Off India ~            " Family Link Included "	Second Engineer	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	Louisiana " Missing In Action " April 6, 1942	" Not Found "	" Yes " Cenotaph
Torra,  Rocco           MM ** ~ Off India ~	Radio Officer	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	Massachusetts " Died Of Wounds " April 9, 1942	National Memorial Cemetery Honolulu, HI	" Yes " Cenotaph

Last Names starting with " U "  ~  " There Were None Lost ! "

Last Names starting with " V "  ~  " There Were None Lost ! "

Last Names starting with " W "  ~  " There Were None Lost ! "

Last Names starting with " X "  ~  " There Were None Lost ! "

Last Names starting with " Y "  ~  " There Were None Lost ! "

Last Names starting with " Z "  ~  " There Were None Lost ! "

Email any questions or comments to:

Russ Pickett

( russpickde@comcast.net )