The " S.S. John Morgan " was a World War II Liberty ship built by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation at their Bethlehem-Fairfield yard at Baltimore, Maryland, and launched on 4 May 1943. The ship was named in the honor of General John Tyler Morgan who was a general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War and also a six-term U.S. Senator from the state of Alabama after the war.

     On June 1, 1943, during its maiden voyage, the " S.S. John Morgan " was enroute from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Bandar Shahpour, Iran loaded with a cargo of P-39 airplanes, tanks, arms, and ammunition of all kinds.

     While approaching Newport News, Virginia the " S.S. John Morgan " collided with an outbound ship, the " S.S. Montana ", off Cape Henry, Virginia.   The " S.S. John Morgan " split in two, exploded, and her stern sank almost immediately, taking 42 merchant mariners and 25 of its naval armed guard to their death.   It is unclear which ship caused the collision.   The collision also caused fires to breakout on the " S.S. Montana ".

     The U.S.S. Shubrick (DD-639), U.S.S Herndon (DD-638), and U.S.S Nelson (DD-623) were sent to investigate the collision. They all circled the area looking for survivors, but recovered the remains of only 12 of those that were on the " S.S. John Morgan ".

     The following below list was created in the memory of those who "Gave Their All" on the " S.S. John Morgan ".   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.

Key to Abbreviations and Notes for the below individual records MM     =  Awarded the " Mariner's Medal " ~ ( Awarded to the Merchant Marines for being wounded, Missing or Killed In Action ) MM *  =  Awarded the " Combat Bar " ~ ( Awarded to those who are under combat conditions ) MM **  =  Awarded the " Combat Star " ~ ( Awarded to those who are forced to abandon ship when attacked or damaged ) 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 Cenotaph  =  A memorial stone only  ~  " OR "  ~  Remains not recovered  ~  " OR "  ~  Interred somewhere unknown. ( www.usmm.org/medals.html )         Quick Link by first letter of Last Name ( Those letters " NOT highlighted " in " BLUE " currently have no soldiers listed ) [ 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 Military Rank Branch of Service State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing Cemetery / Memorial  For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes "   Allen,  Carl E.            n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~  Ordinary Seaman S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines Illinois Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 Webb Cemetery Illinois " Yes " Cenotaph    Last Name, First Name, M.I.          Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos Military Rank Branch of Service State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing Cemetery / Memorial  For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes "   Bailey,  Leon B.             n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~ n/a Oiler S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines " unknown " Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Byrnes,  Thomas, Jr.             n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~ n/a Ordinary Seaman S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines New Jersey Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 Locustwood Memorial Park Cherry Hill, NJ " Yes "    Last Name, First Name, M.I.          Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos Military Rank Branch of Service State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing Cemetery / Memorial  For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes "   Calvert,  Andrew L.             n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~  Second Cook S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines Maryland Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph    Last Name, First Name, M.I.          Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos Military Rank Branch of Service State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing Cemetery / Memorial  For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes "   Dembowczyk,  Anthony             n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~ n/a Wiper S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines Maryland Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 St. Stanislaus Cemetery Baltimore, MD " Yes " Cenotaph    Last Name, First Name, M.I.          Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos Military Rank Branch of Service State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing Cemetery / Memorial  For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes "   Edwards,  Tazwell B.             n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~ n/a Ordinary Seaman S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines Virginia Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph    Last Name, First Name, M.I.          Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos Military Rank Branch of Service State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing Cemetery / Memorial  For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes "   Flowers,  Alfred E.             n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~ n/a Chief Cook S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines " unknown " Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph    Last Name, First Name, M.I.          Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos Military Rank Branch of Service State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing Cemetery / Memorial  For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes "   Goldberg,  Louis T.             n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~ n/a Messman S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines Pennslyvania Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Graham,  Roy E.             n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~  Able-Bodied Seaman S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines Indiana Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 Washington Park East Cemetery Indianapolis, IN " Yes " Cenotaph    Last Name, First Name, M.I.          Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos Military Rank Branch of Service State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing Cemetery / Memorial  For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes "   Holleran,  Sydney             n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~ n/a Utility Man S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines " unknown " Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph Last Names starting with " I " ~ " There Were None ! "    Last Name, First Name, M.I.          Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos Military Rank Branch of Service State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing Cemetery / Memorial  For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes "   Jeffreys,  Robert R.             n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~ n/a Able-Bodied Seaman S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines " unknown " Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph    Last Name, First Name, M.I.          Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos Military Rank Branch of Service State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing Cemetery / Memorial  For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes "   Karkota,  Richard             n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~ n/a Messman S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines " unknown " Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Kirk,  John J.             n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~ n/a Purser S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines " unknown " Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Koegler,  Walter F.             n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~  Steward S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines Utah Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 Elysian Burial Gardens Millcreek, Ut " Yes " Cenotaph    Last Name, First Name, M.I.          Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos Military Rank Branch of Service State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing Cemetery / Memorial  For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes "   Lawrence,  John H. B.             n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~ n/a Junior Engineer S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines " unknown " Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Lock,  Jesse A.             n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~ n/a Third Mate S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines Indiana Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Losada,  Manuel             n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~ n/a Radio Officer S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines New York Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Lydon,  Joseph D.             n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~  Master ( Captain ) S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines Massachusetts Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 St. Patrick's Cemetery Brockton, MA " Yes " Cenotaph    Last Name, First Name, M.I.          Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos Military Rank Branch of Service State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing Cemetery / Memorial  For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes "   McMahon,  Martin J.             n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~ n/a Wiper S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines " unknown " Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Meyer,  Arthur             n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~ n/a Chief Engineer S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines " unknown " Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph    Last Name, First Name, M.I.          Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos Military Rank Branch of Service State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing Cemetery / Memorial  For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes "   Nebraska,  John H.             n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~ n/a Able-Bodied Seaman S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines Pennsylvania Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph    Last Name, First Name, M.I.          Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos Military Rank Branch of Service State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing Cemetery / Memorial  For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes "   O'Leary,  Henry J.             n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~ n/a Messman S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines " unknown " Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Obara,  Jan             n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~ n/a Fireman / Watertender S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines " unknown " Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph    Last Name, First Name, M.I.          Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos Military Rank Branch of Service State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing Cemetery / Memorial  For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes "   Patterson,  Thomas A.             n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~ n/a Oiler S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines " unknown " Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph Last Names starting with " Q " ~ " There Were None ! "    Last Name, First Name, M.I.          Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos Military Rank Branch of Service State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing Cemetery / Memorial  For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes "   Rafferty,  Charles H.             n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~ n/a Second Mate S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines " unknown " Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Ramos,  Alberto             n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~ n/a Utility Man S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines " unknown " Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Reid,  Percy A.             n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~  Deck Engineer S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines North Carolina Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 Edgewood Cemetery Lowell, NC " Yes "   Roffey,  George             n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~ n/a Third Engineer S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines " unknown " Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph    Last Name, First Name, M.I.          Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos Military Rank Branch of Service State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing Cemetery / Memorial  For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes "   Saethre,  Karl W.             n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~ n/a Second Mate S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines Norway Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Schweitzer,  Herman E.             n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~  Able-Bodied Seaman S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines Maryland Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 Mt. Olivet Cemetery Baltimore, MD " Yes "   Slaski,  Edmund             n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~ n/a Ordinary Seaman S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines " unknown " Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Solano,  Antonio             n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~ n/a Fireman / Watertender S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines " unknown " Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Solar,  William             n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~ n/a First Engineer S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines " unknown " Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Stanley,  David J.             n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~ n/a Wiper S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines " unknown " Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Stevenson,  Clifford C.             n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~ n/a Able-Bodied Seaman S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines New Jersey Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Stockmal,  Stanley S.             n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~ n/a Ordinary Seaman S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines New Jersey Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph    Last Name, First Name, M.I.          Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos Military Rank Branch of Service State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing Cemetery / Memorial  For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes "   Talbott,  John O., Jr.             n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~  Deck Cadet S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines Texas Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 Grace Hill Cemetery Longview, TX " Yes " Cenotaph   Tompson,  Albert C.             n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~ n/a Third Cook S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines " unknown " Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Turner,  Ralph W.             n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~ n/a Oiler S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines " unknown " Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph Last Names starting with " U " ~ " There Were None ! " Last Names starting with " V " ~ " There Were None ! "    Last Name, First Name, M.I.          Awards ~ Place Of Passing ~ Photos Military Rank Branch of Service State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing Cemetery / Memorial  For Online  Memorial Click on " Yes "   Wilkinson,  Benjamin H.             n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~  Engine Cadet S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines Ohio Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 Toronto Union Cemetery Toronto, OH " Yes " Cenotaph   Winter,  Harold B.             n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~ n/a Utility Man S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines " unknown " Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Werley,  Maurice C.             n/a ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~ n/a Bosun S.S. John Morgan Merchant Marines Virginia Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph Last Names starting with " X " ~ " There Were None ! " Last Names starting with " Y " ~ " There Were None ! " Last Names starting with " Z " ~ " There Were None ! " Email any questions or comments to: Russ Pickett