All lettering shown in " BLUE " on this website are links

" Special Thanks go to " TWO " Remarkable Websites " : " usmm.org " ~    AND    ~ " uboat.net " Please visit these great websites for more by clicking above !

Tuesday,
" January 14, 2025 "

( This webpage originally created in March, 2015 )

         The steam tanker " S.S. India Arrow " was built in 1921 by the " Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation ", Quincy, Massachusetts for the Socony-Vacuum Oil Company, Inc., New York.

         On February 4, 1942 the unescorted and unarmed " India Arrow " was enroute from Corpus Christi, Texas to Carteret, New Jersey with a cargo of 88.369 barrels of diesel fuel.   They were hit by a torpedo fired by " German Submarine U-103 " approximatley 20 miles southeast of " Cape May, New Jerse ".

         The torpedo struck on the starboard quarter at about the #10 bunker.   The " India Arrow " caught fire and began to sink rapidly by the stern.   The nine officers and 29 crewmen immediately began to abandon ship.   Two lifeboats were destroyed by the explosion and a third was pulled beneath the water by the sinking tanker, drowning 18 of the 20 occupants in it.

     U-103 then surfaced and fired seven shells from her deck gun at two minutes intervals from a distance of 250 yards into the bow section which remained above water as the stern was sinking.   Two men died as a result of the shelling.

         The " S.S. India Arrow " lost " 8 " officers and " 18 " of her crew.   Only " 1 " officer and " 11 " crewmen survived.

The ship Master/Captain of the " S.S. India Arrow " was :

Carl Samuel Johnson

who was the only surviving officer in this sinking !

The " 11 " other survivors from the sinking were:

• Fred Baker  ~  Machinist ~ Johns Island, South Carolina
  
• N.J. Baugh  ~  Officer's Steward ~ Alpaus, New York
  
• Alva Curtis Bradford, Jr.  ~  Fireman ~ Pine Bluff, AR
  
• Gordon Chambers  ~  Wiper ~ Bronx, New York
  
• Sam Coulquitt  ~  Officer's Messman ~ Madisonville, Texas
  
• Michael Charles Kusy  ~  Able-Bodied Seaman ~ New York City, New York
  
• Dale I. Montgomery  ~  Bosun ~ Englewood, California
  
• Bert F. Palmer  ~  Fireman ~ Sayville, New York
  
• Edward J. Proehl  ~  Officer's Steward ~ Jersey City, New Jersey
  
• Charles Louis Seerveld  ~  Able-Bodied Seaman ~ Center Moriches, New York
  
• Edward Joseph Sheer  ~  Radio Operator ~ Hammonton, Indiana

The following below list was created in the memory of those who
" Gave Their All ! "
on the
" S.S. India Arrow ! "

               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 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.

( Those letters shown in " Red " did not have names to list for 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 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
Alston,  Ruffus Edgar MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~  " Family Link Included "	Messman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Corpus Christi, Texas ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Cedarvale Bay City Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Bay City, Texas ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 4, 1942
Anger,  Joseph Barksdale MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~ N/A	Oiler	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Beaumont, Texas ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 4, 1942
Armanini,  Victor Manuel MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~ N/A	Fireman / Watertender	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Beaumont, Texas ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 4, 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
Baldwin,  Ernest Donald MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~	Able-Bodied Seaman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Lakeview Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Bridgeport, Connecticut ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 4, 1942
Brittingham,  Thomas E. MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~  " Family Link Included "	First Engineer	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Greenfield Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Uniondale, New York ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 4, 1942
Brouillet,  Arthur Lowe MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~ N/A	Second Mate	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Holyoke, Massachusetts ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 4, 1942
Buhrman,  Ira Harrison MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~    " Family Link Included "	Wiper	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Frederick County, Maryland " Click Here " ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Maryland National WW II Memorial ~ ~ ~ Annapolis, Maryland ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 4, 1942

Last Names starting with " C " " 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
Davis,  Joseph Thomas MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~ N/A	Chief Mate	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Bronx, New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 4, 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
Ellinekas,  Harris MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~ N/A	Pumpman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	New York City, New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 4, 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
Finn,  Michael Augustine MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~ N/A	Messman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	New York City, New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 4, 1942

Last Names starting with " G " " 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
Harris,  Thomas Evan, Sr. MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~  " Family Link Included "	Chief Cook	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Texas ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 4, 1942
Heater,  Stanton Edward MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~ N/A	Junior Third Engineer	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Ohio ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 4, 1942
Hetz,  Nicholas MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~  " Family Link Included "	Utility Man	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Camden, New Jersey ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 4, 1942
Huhnergarth,  Karl Friedrich MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~ N/A	Steward	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Bronx, New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 4, 1942

Last Names starting with " I " " and " " J " " 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
Kerr,  James Samuel MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~  " Family Link Included "	Able-Bodied Seaman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Mississippi ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Brooks Chapel Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Arkabutla, Mississippi ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 4, 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
LeJeune,  Olivier MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~ N/A " Family Link Included "	Wiper	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Frisco, Louisiana ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 4, 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
Moody,  Henry Jefferson MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~ N/A	Oiler	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Beaumont, Texas ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 4, 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
Nilsen,  Thomas MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~ N/A	Cook	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Brooklyn, New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 4, 1942

Last Names starting with " 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
Schwartz,  Michael MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~ N/A	Ordinary Seaman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Brooklyn, New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 4, 1942
Simon,  Anthony MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~ N/A	Oiler	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Scranton, Pennsylvania ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 4, 1942
Simonson,  Edward K. P. MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~ N/A	Able-Bodied Seaman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 4, 1942
Suderow,  Erich K. H. MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~ N/A	Chief Engineer	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	New Brighton, New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 4, 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
Truitt,  George Daniel MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~ N/A	Third Engineer	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	New York City, New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 4, 1942
Tucker,  Robert Dart, Jr. MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~ N/A " Family Link Included "	Able-Bodied Seaman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Riverside, Rhode Island ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 4, 1942

Last Names starting with " U " " and " " V " " 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
White,  Walter Volney MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~ N/A	Second Engineer	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Tottenville, New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 4, 1942
Winn,  James Joseph MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~ N/A	Third Mate	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Brighton, Massachusetts ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 4, 1942

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

Email any questions or comments to:

Russ Pickett

( russpickde@comcast.net )