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 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 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, M.I. Awards ~ Photos Notes ~ ( If Available )	Military Rank	Branch of Service	State / Country Of Residence ~ ~ ~ Cause Of Passing	Cemetery / Memorial	For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes " ( below )
Berman,  Saul Harold MM **  ~  N/A	Chief Mate	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ Merchant Marine	New Orleans, Louisiana ~ ~ ~ " Lost At Sea "	" Not Found "	" Yes " ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph
Borregaard,  Niels L. M. MM **  ~  N/A	Fireman / Watertender	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ Merchant Marine	Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey ~ ~ ~ " Lost At Sea "	" Not Found "	" Yes " ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph
Byers,  Eldwyn Lambert MM **  ~  N/A " Family Link Included "	Fireman / Watertender	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ Merchant Marine	Charlotte, North Carolina ~ ~ ~ " Lost At Sea "	" Not Found "	" Yes " ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph

Last Name, First Name, M.I. Awards ~ Photos Notes ~ ( If Available )	Military Rank	Branch of Service	State / Country Of Residence ~ ~ ~ Cause Of Passing	Cemetery / Memorial	For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes " ( below )
Cassell,  John Leonard MM **  ~  N/A " Family Link Included "	Wiper	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ Merchant Marine	Brooklyn, New York ~ ~ ~ " Lost At Sea "	" Not Found "	" Yes " ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph
Chisholm,  Amos MM **  ~  N/A	Cook	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ Merchant Marine	Miami, Florida ~ ~ ~ " Lost At Sea "	" Not Found "	" Yes " ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph
Crouse,  Charles MM **  ~  N/A	Fireman / Watertender	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ Merchant Marine	Springfield, New Jersey ~ ~ ~ " Lost At Sea "	" Not Found "	" Yes " ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph
Crutchfield,  Clarence Alvin MM **  ~  N/A	First Engineer	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ Merchant Marine	Mobile, Alabama ~ ~ ~ " Lost At Sea "	" Not Found "	" Yes " ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph

Last Name, First Name, M.I. Awards ~ Photos Notes ~ ( If Available )	Military Rank	Branch of Service	State / Country Of Residence ~ ~ ~ Cause Of Passing	Cemetery / Memorial	For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes " ( below )
Dominguez ,  Eugene Thomas MM **  ~  N/A " Family Link Included "	Able-Bodied Seaman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ Merchant Marine	Havana, Cuba ~ ~ ~ " Lost At Sea "	" Not Found "	" Yes " ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph

Last Name, First Name, M.I. Awards ~ Photos Notes ~ ( If Available )	Military Rank	Branch of Service	State / Country Of Residence ~ ~ ~ Cause Of Passing	Cemetery / Memorial	For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes " ( below )
Elshick,  Jesse John MM **  ~   " Family Link Included "	Able-Bodied Seaman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ Merchant Marine	Houston, Texas ~ ~ ~ " Lost At Sea "	" Not Found "	" Yes " ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph

Last Name, First Name, M.I. Awards ~ Photos Notes ~ ( If Available )	Military Rank	Branch of Service	State / Country Of Residence ~ ~ ~ Cause Of Passing	Cemetery / Memorial	For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes " ( below )
Ferguson,  Lionel W. MM **  ~  N/A	Messman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ Merchant Marine	New York City, New York ~ ~ ~ " Lost At Sea "	" Not Found "	" Yes " ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph
Filomeno,  Ismael MM **  ~  N/A	Messman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ Merchant Marine	Brooklyn, New York ~ ~ ~ " Lost At Sea "	" Not Found "	" Yes " ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph

Last Name, First Name, M.I. Awards ~ Photos Notes ~ ( If Available )	Military Rank	Branch of Service	State / Country Of Residence ~ ~ ~ Cause Of Passing	Cemetery / Memorial	For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes " ( below )
Gourdier,  John Charles MM **  ~  N/A	Able-Bodied Seaman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ Merchant Marine	Englewood, New Jersey ~ ~ ~ " Lost At Sea "	" Not Found "	" Yes " ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph

Last Name, First Name, M.I. Awards ~ Photos Notes ~ ( If Available )	Military Rank	Branch of Service	State / Country Of Residence ~ ~ ~ Cause Of Passing	Cemetery / Memorial	For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes " ( below )
Holbrook,  Richard Homer MM ** ~ Berhampur, India ~  " Family Link Included "	Engine Cadet	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ Merchant Marine	Wayland, 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 ~ Photos Notes ~ ( If Available )	Military Rank	Branch of Service	State / Country Of Residence ~ ~ ~ Cause Of Passing	Cemetery / Memorial	For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes " ( below )
Jaycox,  Floyd Stephen, Sr. MM **  ~  N/A " Family Link Included "	Third Mate	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ Merchant Marine	Biloxi, Mississippi ~ ~ ~ " Lost At Sea "	" Not Found "	" Yes " ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph
Johansen,  Karsten MM **  ~  N/A	Oiler	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ Merchant Marine	Long Beach, New York ~ ~ ~ " Lost At Sea "	" Not Found "	" Yes " ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph

Last Name, First Name, M.I. Awards ~ Photos Notes ~ ( If Available )	Military Rank	Branch of Service	State / Country Of Residence ~ ~ ~ Cause Of Passing	Cemetery / Memorial	For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes " ( below )
Kline,  Robert MM **  ~  N/A	Ordinary Seaman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ Merchant Marine	New Orleans, Louisiana ~ ~ ~ " Lost At Sea "	" Not Found "	" Yes " ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph

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

Last Name, First Name, M.I. Awards ~ Photos Notes ~ ( If Available )	Military Rank	Branch of Service	State / Country Of Residence ~ ~ ~ Cause Of Passing	Cemetery / Memorial	For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes " ( below )
McKee,  William Woolworth MM **  ~  N/A " Family Link Included "	Able-Bodied Seaman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ Merchant Marine	Bayou LaBatre, Alabama ~ ~ ~ " Lost At Sea "	" Not Found "	" Yes " ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph
McLaren,  Joseph Donald MM **  ~  N/A	Steward	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ Merchant Marine	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ~ ~ ~ " Lost At Sea "	" Not Found "	" Yes " ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph
Mich,  Anthony John MM **  ~  N/A	Able-Bodied Seaman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ Merchant Marine	Spring Valley, New York ~ ~ ~ " Lost At Sea "	" 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 ~ Photos Notes ~ ( If Available )	Military Rank	Branch of Service	State / Country Of Residence ~ ~ ~ Cause Of Passing	Cemetery / Memorial	For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes " ( below )
Sherris,  Eliot Ivan MM **  ~  Berhampur, India  ~  N/A	Ordinary Seaman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ Merchant Marine	Rochester, New York ~ ~ ~ " Died Of Wounds " ~ ~ ~ April 8, 1942	" Not Found "	" Yes " ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph
Stoltz ,  Einar Holck MM **  ~  N/A	Second Mate	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ Merchant Marine	Brooklyn, New York ~ ~ ~ " Lost At Sea "	" Not Found "	" Yes " ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph
Sutherland,  William Charles MM **  ~  N/A	Bosun	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ Merchant Marine	New York City, New York ~ ~ ~ " Lost At Sea "	" Not Found "	" Yes " ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph

Last Name, First Name, M.I. Awards ~ Photos Notes ~ ( If Available )	Military Rank	Branch of Service	State / Country Of Residence ~ ~ ~ Cause Of Passing	Cemetery / Memorial	For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes " ( below )
Teegarden,  Kenneth Crawford MM **  ~   " Family Link Included "	Second Engineer	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ Merchant Marine	Louisiana ~ ~ ~ " Lost At Sea "	" Not Found "	" Yes " ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph
Torra,  Rocco MM **  ~  Berhampur, India  ~	Radio Officer	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ Merchant Marine	Boston, 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 )