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 ".   On the " Majority " of the online memorials you will see a small biography for each soldier which may include:

Parent's, Grandparent's & Sibling's Names,
where & when they were born,
where they grew up,
when & where they enlisted in the service,
the military unit they were part of,
" AND "
where and how they actually died during the war !

MM  ~  Awarded the " Mariner's Medal "
            ( Awarded to a Merchant Marine for being Wounded, Missing or Killed In Action )

MM *  ~  Awarded the " Combat Bar ( Ribbon ) "
              ( Awarded to a Merchant Marine who served under combat conditions )

MM **  ~  Awarded the " Combat Star "
                ( Awarded to a Merchant Marine who is forced to abandon ship when attacked or damaged )

PMM  ~  Awarded the " Mariner's Prisoner of War Medal "
               ( Awarded to a Merchant Marine who is held as a prisoners of war during World War II )

PH  ~  Awarded the " Purple Heart "
           ( Awarded to U.S. 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 or Awards 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.

( Those letters shown below in " Red " note none were lost 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 ~ Middle Name Awards Place Of Passing ~ Photos Notes ( If Available )	Military Rank	Branch of Service	Place Of Residence ~ ~ ~ Cause Of Passing	Cemetery/ Memorial	For Online Memorial ~ ~ ~ Click Below
Berman,  Saul Harold MM ** off India ~ N/A	Chief Mate	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	New Orleans, Louisiana ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 6, 1942
Borregaard,  Niels L. M. MM ** off India ~ N/A	Fireman / Watertender	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 6, 1942
Byers,  Eldwyn Lambert MM ** off India ~ N/A " Family Link Included "	Fireman / Watertender	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Charlotte, North Carolina ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 6, 1942

Last Name ~ First Name ~ Middle Name Awards Place Of Passing ~ Photos Notes ( If Available )	Military Rank	Branch of Service	Place Of Residence ~ ~ ~ Cause Of Passing	Cemetery/ Memorial	For Online Memorial ~ ~ ~ Click Below
Cassell,  John Leonard MM ** off India ~ N/A " Family Link Included "	Wiper	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Brooklyn, New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 6, 1942
Chisholm,  Amos MM ** off India ~ N/A	Cook	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Miami, Florida ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 6, 1942
Crouse,  Charles MM ** off India ~ N/A	Fireman / Watertender	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Springfield, New Jersey ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 6, 1942
Crutchfield,  Clarence Alvin MM ** off India ~ N/A	First Engineer	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Mobile, Alabama ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 6, 1942

Last Name ~ First Name ~ Middle Name Awards Place Of Passing ~ Photos Notes ( If Available )	Military Rank	Branch of Service	Place Of Residence ~ ~ ~ Cause Of Passing	Cemetery/ Memorial	For Online Memorial ~ ~ ~ Click Below
Dominguez ,  Eugene Thomas MM ** off India ~ N/A " Family Link Included "	Able-Bodied Seaman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Havana, Cuba ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 6, 1942

Last Name ~ First Name ~ Middle Name Awards Place Of Passing ~ Photos Notes ( If Available )	Military Rank	Branch of Service	Place Of Residence ~ ~ ~ Cause Of Passing	Cemetery/ Memorial	For Online Memorial ~ ~ ~ Click Below
Elshick,  Jesse John MM ** off India ~ " Family Link Included "	Able-Bodied Seaman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Houston, Texas ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 6, 1942

Last Name ~ First Name ~ Middle Name Awards Place Of Passing ~ Photos Notes ( If Available )	Military Rank	Branch of Service	Place Of Residence ~ ~ ~ Cause Of Passing	Cemetery/ Memorial	For Online Memorial ~ ~ ~ Click Below
Ferguson,  Lionel W. MM ** off India ~ N/A	Messman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	New York City, New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 6, 1942
Filomeno,  Ismael MM ** off India ~ N/A	Messman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Brooklyn, New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 6, 1942

Last Name ~ First Name ~ Middle Name Awards Place Of Passing ~ Photos Notes ( If Available )	Military Rank	Branch of Service	Place Of Residence ~ ~ ~ Cause Of Passing	Cemetery/ Memorial	For Online Memorial ~ ~ ~ Click Below
Gourdier,  John Charles MM ** off India ~ N/A	Able-Bodied Seaman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Englewood, New Jersey ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 6, 1942

Last Name ~ First Name ~ Middle Name Awards Place Of Passing ~ Photos Notes ( If Available )	Military Rank	Branch of Service	Place Of Residence ~ ~ ~ Cause Of Passing	Cemetery/ Memorial	For Online Memorial ~ ~ ~ Click Below
Holbrook,  Richard Homer MM ** Berhampur, India ~  " Family Link Included "	Engine Cadet	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Wayland, New York ~ ~ ~ " Died " Of Wounds	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 11, 1942

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

Last Name ~ First Name ~ Middle Name Awards Place Of Passing ~ Photos Notes ( If Available )	Military Rank	Branch of Service	Place Of Residence ~ ~ ~ Cause Of Passing	Cemetery/ Memorial	For Online Memorial ~ ~ ~ Click Below
Jaycox,  Floyd Stephen, Sr. MM ** off India ~ N/A " Family Link Included "	Third Mate	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Biloxi, Mississippi ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 6, 1942
Johansen,  Karsten MM ** off India ~ N/A	Oiler	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Long Beach, New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 6, 1942

Last Name ~ First Name ~ Middle Name Awards Place Of Passing ~ Photos Notes ( If Available )	Military Rank	Branch of Service	Place Of Residence ~ ~ ~ Cause Of Passing	Cemetery/ Memorial	For Online Memorial ~ ~ ~ Click Below
Kline,  Robert MM ** off India ~ N/A	Ordinary Seaman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	New Orleans, Louisiana ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 6, 1942

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

Last Name ~ First Name ~ Middle Name Awards Place Of Passing ~ Photos Notes ( If Available )	Military Rank	Branch of Service	Place Of Residence ~ ~ ~ Cause Of Passing	Cemetery/ Memorial	For Online Memorial ~ ~ ~ Click Below
McKee,  William Woolworth MM ** off India ~ N/A " Family Link Included "	Able-Bodied Seaman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Bayou LaBatre, Alabama ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 6, 1942
McLaren,  Joseph Donald MM ** off India ~ N/A	Steward	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 6, 1942
Mich,  Anthony John MM ** off India ~ N/A	Able-Bodied Seaman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Spring Valley, New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 6, 1942

Last Names starting with " N " ~ " O " ~ " P " ~ " Q " and " R " " There Were None Lost ! "

Last Name ~ First Name ~ Middle Name Awards Place Of Passing ~ Photos Notes ( If Available )	Military Rank	Branch of Service	Place Of Residence ~ ~ ~ Cause Of Passing	Cemetery/ Memorial	For Online Memorial ~ ~ ~ Click Below
Sherris,  Eliot Ivan MM ** Berhampur, India  ~  N/A	Ordinary Seaman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Rochester, New York " Click Here " ~ ~ ~ " Died " Of Wounds	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 8, 1942
Stoltz ,  Einar Holck MM ** off India ~ N/A	Second Mate	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Brooklyn, New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 6, 1942
Sutherland,  William Charles MM ** off India ~ N/A	Bosun	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	New York City, New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 6, 1942

Last Name ~ First Name ~ Middle Name Awards Place Of Passing ~ Photos Notes ( If Available )	Military Rank	Branch of Service	Place Of Residence ~ ~ ~ Cause Of Passing	Cemetery/ Memorial	For Online Memorial ~ ~ ~ Click Below
Teegarden,  Kenneth Crawford MM ** off India ~ " Family Link Included "	Second Engineer	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Louisiana ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 6, 1942
Torra,  Rocco MM ** Berhampur, India ~	Radio Officer	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Boston, Massachusetts ~ ~ ~ " Died " Of Wounds	National Memorial Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Honolulu, Hawaii	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 9, 1942

Last Names starting with " U " ~ " V " ~ " W " ~ " X " ~ " Y " and " Z " " There Were None Lost ! "

Email any questions or comments to:

Russ Pickett

( russpickde@comcast.net )