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 !

Thursday,
May 5, 2022

         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 " S.S. 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 boats 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, SC
  
• N.J. Baugh  ~  Officer's Steward ~ Alpaus, NY
  
• Alva Curtis Bradford, Jr.  ~  Fireman ~ Pine Bluff, AR
  
• Gordon Chambers  ~  Wiper ~ Bronx, NY
  
• Sam Coulquitt  ~  Officer's Messman ~ Madisonville, TX
  
• Michael Charles Kusy  ~  Able-Bodied Seaman ~ New York City, NY
  
• Dale I. Montgomery  ~  Bosun ~ Englewood, CA
  
• Bert F. Palmer  ~  Fireman ~ Sayville, NY
  
• Edward J. Proehl  ~  Officer's Steward ~ Jersey City, NJ
  
• Charles Louis Seerveld  ~  Able-Bodied Seaman ~ Center Moriches, NY
  
• Edward Joseph Sheer  ~  Radio Operator ~ Hammonton, IN

         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.   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. India Arrow "

( Those letters shown below in " Maroon " had no crew members 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 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 "
Alston,  Ruffus Edgar             MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~              " Family Link Included "	Messman	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	Texas " Missing In Action " February 4, 1942	Cedarvale Bay City Cemetery Bay City, TX	" Yes " Cenotaph
Anger,  Joseph Barksdale             MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~ n/a	Oiler	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	Texas " Missing In Action " February 4, 1942	" Not Found "	" Yes " Cenotaph
Armanini,  Victor Manuel             MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~ n/a	Fireman / Watertender	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	Texas " Missing In Action " February 4, 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 "
Baldwin,  Ernest Donald             MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~	Able-Bodied Seaman	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	New York " Missing In Action " February 4, 1942	Lakeview Cemetery Bridgeport, CT	" Yes " Cenotaph
Brittingham,  Thomas E.             MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~	First Engineer	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	New York " Missing In Action " February 4, 1942	Greenfield Cemetery Uniondale, NY	" Yes " Cenotaph
Brouillet,  Arthur Lowe             MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~ n/a	Second Mate	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	Massachusetts " Missing In Action " February 4, 1942	" Not Found "	" Yes " Cenotaph
Buhrman,  Ira Harrison             MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~                " Family Link Included "	Wiper	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	Maryland " Missing In Action " February 4, 1942	Maryland National WW II Memorial Annapolis, MD	" Yes " Cenotaph

Last Names starting with " C "  ~  " 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 "
Davis,  Joseph Thomas             MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~ n/a	Chief Mate	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	New York " Missing In Action " February 4, 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 "
Ellinekas,  Harris             MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~ n/a	Pumpman	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	New York " Missing In Action " February 4, 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 "
Finn,  Michael Augustine             MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~ n/a	Messman	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	New York " Missing In Action " February 4, 1942	" Not Found "	" Yes " Cenotaph

Last Names starting with " G "  ~  " 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 "
Harris,  Thomas Evan, Sr.             MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~              " Family Link Included "	Chief Cook	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	Texas " Missing In Action " February 4, 1942	" Not Found "	" Yes " Cenotaph
Heater,  Stanton Edward             MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~ n/a	Junior Third Engineer	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	Ohio " Missing In Action " February 4, 1942	" Not Found "	" Yes " Cenotaph
Hetz,  Nicholas             MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~              " Family Link Included "	Utility Man	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	New Jersey " Missing In Action " February 4, 1942	" Not Found "	" Yes " Cenotaph
Huhnergarth,  Karl Friedrich             MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~ n/a	Steward	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	New York " Missing In Action " February 4, 1942	" Not Found "	" Yes " Cenotaph

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

Last Names starting with " J "  ~  " 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 "
Kerr,  James Samuel             MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~              " Family Link Included "	Able-Bodied Seaman	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	Mississippi " Missing In Action " February 4, 1942	Brooks Chapel Cemetery Arkabutla, MS	" 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 "
LeJeune,  Olivier             MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~ n/a             " Family Link Included "	Wiper	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	Louisiana " Missing In Action " February 4, 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 "
Moody,  Henry Jefferson             MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~ n/a	Oiler	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	Texas " Missing In Action " February 4, 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 "
Nilsen,  Thomas             MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~ n/a	Cook	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	New York " Missing In Action " February 4, 1942	" Not Found "	" Yes " Cenotaph

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 "
Schwartz,  Michael             MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~ n/a	Ordinary Seaman	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	New York " Missing In Action " February 4, 1942	" Not Found "	" Yes " Cenotaph
Simon,  Anthony             MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~ n/a	Oiler	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	Pennsylvania " Missing In Action " February 4, 1942	" Not Found "	" Yes " Cenotaph
Simonson,  Edward K. P.             MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~ n/a	Able-Bodied Seaman	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	Pennsylvania " Missing In Action " February 4, 1942	" Not Found "	" Yes " Cenotaph
Suderow,  Erich K. H.             MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~ n/a	Chief Engineer	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	New York " Missing In Action " February 4, 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 "
Truitt,  George Daniel             MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~ n/a	Third Engineer	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	New York " Missing In Action " February 4, 1942	" Not Found "	" Yes " Cenotaph
Tucker,  Robert Dart, Jr.             MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~ n/a             " Family Link Included "	Able-Bodied Seaman	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	Rhode Island " Missing In Action " February 4, 1942	" Not Found "	" Yes " Cenotaph

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

Last Names starting with " V "  ~  " 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 "
White,  Walter Volney             MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~ n/a	Second Engineer	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	New York " Missing In Action " February 4, 1942	" Not Found "	" Yes " Cenotaph
Winn,  James Joseph             MM ** ~ Off Cape May, NJ ~ n/a	Third Mate	" Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine	Massachusetts " Missing In Action " February 4, 1942	" Not Found "	" Yes " Cenotaph

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 )