Page last updated:
October 29, 2019
Sinking on June 1, 1943
the " S.S. John Morgan "
reportedly loss " 67 " men !
( The names of all " 42 " of the Merchant Mariners that died on the S.S. John Morgan are listed below ! )
( The names of naval armed guards are not .... still being researched )
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
MM = Awarded the " Mariner's Medal " !
( Awarded to the Merchant Mariner's for being Wounded, Missing or Killed In Action )
MM * = Awarded the " Combat Bar / Ribbon " !
( Awarded to Mariner's who have been under combat conditions )
MM ** = Awarded the " Combat Star " ( attached to the Combat Bar )
( Awarded to Mariner's who are forced to abandon ship when attacked or damaged )
MM-DSM = Awarded the Mariner's " Distinguished Service Medal " !
( Awarded for " Heroism Beyond the Call of Duty " )
MM-POW = Awarded the Mariner's " Prisoner Of War Medal " !
( Awarded to Mariner's who served time as a POW " )
PH = Awarded the " Purple Heart " !
( Awarded to U.S. Military Soldiers & Sailors for being Wounded and/or Killed in action )
Other Medals
Such as Good Conduct Medals, Campaign Medals, Defense Service Medals, etc.,
" Are Not " included in this listing.
= Picture of person shown on online memorial
= Picture of tombstone shown on online memorial
" Family Link Included " = Parent, Spouse, or Child linked in " 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 shown in " Maroon " below currently have no one to list )
[ 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 Edward
N/A ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~  |
Ordinary Seaman | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
Illinois Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 |
Webb Cemetery Johnson County, IL |
" 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 | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
Texas 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 | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
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 | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
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 | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
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 | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
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 | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
" 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 | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
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 | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
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 | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
" 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 | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
" 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 | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
" 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 | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
" unknown " Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 |
Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " |
" Yes " Cenotaph |
Koegler, Walter F.
N/A ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~  |
Steward | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
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 | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
" 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 | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
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 | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
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 " | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
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 | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
" 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 | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
" 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 | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
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 | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
" 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 | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
" 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 | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
" 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 | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
" 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 | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
" unknown " Line Of Duty June 1, 1943 |
Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " |
" Yes " Cenotaph |
Reid, Percy A.
N/A ~ Off Cape Henry, VA ~  |
Deck Engineer | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
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 | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
" 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 | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
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 | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
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 | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
" 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 | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
" 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 | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
" 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 | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
" 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 | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
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 | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
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 | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
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 | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
" 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 | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
" 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 | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
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 | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
" 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 | " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine |
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
( russpickde@comcast.net )
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