On December 2, 1943 the " S.S. John L. Motley " was in the Bari, Italy Port waiting to, or already unloading, it's Cargo of ammunition.   Also in port that day was the " S.S. John Harvey " that was loaded with a secret cargo: 2,000 M47A1 mustard gas bombs, each of which held 60-70 lbs of sulfur mustard.   The Port was attacked by 105 German Junkers Ju 88 bombers of Luftflotte 2.   The bombers achieved surprise and bombed shipping and personnel operating in support of the Allied Italian Campaign.

     The " S.S. John L. Motley " was destroyed, along with the other " 27 " ships noted below, in what has become known as the " Bari Port Disaster " in a huge explosion which caused the liquid sulfur mustard on the " S.S. John Harvey " to spill into the water, mixing with oil from the sunken ships, and a cloud of sulfur mustard vapor to blow over the city.   It is believed that nearly all crewmen of the " S.S. John L. Motley " perished in the sinking   The rescuers were prevented from knowing the danger they faced until a " M47A1 " bomb fragment was retrieved from the wreckage.

The ship Master / Captain of the " S.S. John L. Motley " was:

Constantine Tsimenis

" Cenotaph "

He resided in New York City, New York prior to the war.

Constantine was lost in this sinking !

     The " Bari Disaster " included the sinking of " 25 " ships, another " 3 " becoming a total loss, another " 12 " damaged, and killing over " 1,000 " people.   A total of 628 military victims were also hospitalized with "mustard gas symptoms" and by the end of the month, " 83 " of them had died.   The number of civilian casualties was thought to have been even greater.

The " 28 " ship's sunk or lost included:

Ardito ( Italy )	Aube ( Italy )	Barletta ( Italy )	Bollsta ( Norway )	Cassala ( Italian )	Corfu ( Italian )
Devon Coast ( British )	S.S. Fort Athabasca ( British )	Fort Lajoie ( British )	Frosinone ( Italian )	Genespesca II ( Italian )	Goggiam ( Italian )
Inaffondabile ( Italian )	S.S. John Bascom ( U.S. )	S.S. John Harvey ( U.S. )	S.S. John L. Motley ( U.S. )	S.S. Joseph Wheeler ( U.S. )	S.S. Lars Kruse ( British )
Lom ( Norway )	Luciano Orlando ( Italy )	Lwow ( Polish )	MB 10 ( Italian )	S.S. Norlom ( Norway )	Porto Pisano ( Italy )
Puck ( Polish )	S.S. Samuel J. Tilden ( U.S. )			Testbank ( British )	Volodda ( Italian )

     The following below list was created in the memory of those who "Gave Their All" on the " S.S. John L. Motley ".   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 for the " S.S. John L. Motley " ( Those letters shown below in " Maroon " below had no one 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 Military Rank Branch of Service State / Country Cause of Death Date Of Passing Cemetery / Memorial For Online Memorial Click on " Yes "   Abrams,  Albert E.           MM ** ~ Bari, Italy ~  Messman " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine New Jersey Missing In Action December 2, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Alterice,  Patrick A.           PH ~ Bari, Italy ~  Signalman Third Class " Armed Guard " U.S. Navy Pennsylvania Missing In Action December 2, 1943 Sicily-Rome American Cemetery Italy " 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 "   Bagdonas,  John F.           MM ** ~ Bari, Italy ~ n/a Ordinary Seaman " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine Connecticut Missing In Action December 2, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Belanger,  Ernest           MM ** ~ Bari, Italy ~ n/a Fireman / Watertender " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine Massachusetts Missing In Action December 2, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Bird,  Francis L.           MM ** ~ Bari, Italy ~ n/a Wiper " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine Minnesota Missing In Action December 2, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Bloomberg,  Melvin H.           MM ** ~ Bari, Italy ~  Radio Officer " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine Florida Died Of Wounds December 9, 1943 Sicily-Rome American Cemetery Italy " Yes "   Bognacki,  Charles J.           PH ~ Bari, Italy ~  Coxswain " Armed Guard " U.S. Navy New Jersey Missing In Action December 2, 1943 Sicily-Rome American Cemetery Italy " Yes " Cenotaph   Buchler,  Anthony           MM ** ~ Bari, Italy ~ n/a Able-Bodied Seaman " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine New York Missing In Action December 2, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Buck,  Lee D.           MM ** ~ Bari, Italy ~ n/a Pantryman " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine Pennsylvania Missing In Action December 2, 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 "   Chase,  James           MM ** ~ Bari, Italy ~ n/a Ordinary Seaman " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine Illinois Missing In Action December 2, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Contreras,  Antonio           MM ** ~ Bari, Italy ~ n/a Oiler " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine Honduras Missing In Action December 2, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Couillard,  Joseph P.           MM ** ~ Bari, Italy ~  First Engineer " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine Rhode Island Killed In Action December 2, 1943 Sicily-Rome American Cemetery Italy " 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 "   Davis,  Thomas C.           PH ~ Bari, Italy ~  Gunner's Mate Third Class " Armed Guard " U.S. Navy Delaware Missing In Action December 2, 1943 Sicily-Rome American Cemetery Italy " Yes " Cenotaph   Dickinson,  William C.           MM ** ~ Bari, Italy ~ n/a Oiler " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine California Killed In Action December 2, 1943 Sicily-Rome American Cemetery Italy " Yes " Last Names starting with " E " ~ " 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 "   Fontnette,  Richard           MM ** ~ Bari, Italy ~  Utility Man " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine Louisiana Killed In Action December 2, 1943 Sicily-Rome American Cemetery Italy " Yes "   Frohlich,  William G.           PH ~ Bari, Italy ~  Seaman First Class " Armed Guard " U.S. Navy Pennsylvania Missing In Action December 2, 1943 Sicily-Rome American Cemetery Italy " 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 "   Gagliardi,  Joseph           MM ** ~ Bari, Italy ~  Bosun " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine New York Killed In Action December 2, 1943 Sicily-Rome American Cemetery Italy " Yes "   Gearrey,  Harry T.           MM ** ~ Bari, Italy ~  Utility Man " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine Maine Killed In Action December 2, 1943 Oak Grove Cemetery Gardiner, ME " Yes "   Gilbert,  John L.           MM ** ~ Bari, Italy ~ n/a Utility Man " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine New York Missing In Action December 2, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Gill,  Louis           MM ** ~ Bari, Italy ~ n/a Baker " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine Pennsylvania Missing In Action December 2, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Gillette,  Robert M.           MM ** ~ Bari, Italy ~  Second Engineer " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine Pennsylvania Killed In Action December 2, 1943 Sicily-Rome American Cemetery Italy " 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 "   Healy,  Patrick J.           PH ~ Bari, Italy ~  Seaman First Class " Armed Guard " U.S. Navy New York Missing In Action December 2, 1943 Sicily-Rome American Cemetery Italy " Yes " Cenotaph   Heeman,  Harry J.           MM ** ~ Bari, Italy ~ n/a Chief Engineer " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine New York Missing In Action December 2, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Hillis,  Henry C.           PH ~ Bari, Italy ~  Seaman First Class " Armed Guard " U.S. Navy Arkansas Killed In Action December 2, 1943 Redd Cemetery Arkansas " Yes " Cenotaph   Holland,  Donald H.           MM ** ~ Bari, Italy ~  Ordinary Seaman " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine Connecticut Killed In Action December 2, 1943 Sicily-Rome American Cemetery Italy " Yes "   Howard,  Edwin D.           MM ** ~ Bari, Italy ~ n/a Deck Cadet " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine Ohio Missing In Action December 2, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Husband,  Alfred S.           PH ~ Bari, Italy ~  Seaman First Class " Armed Guard " U.S. Navy Michigan Missing In Action December 2, 1943 Sicily-Rome American Cemetery Italy " 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 "   Iannantuoni,  Joseph P.           MM ** ~ Bari, Italy ~ n/a Cook " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine New York Missing In Action December 2, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph Last Names starting with " J " ~ " 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 "   Kundzicz,  Sygmunt           MM ** ~ Bari, Italy ~ n/a Oiler " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine New Jersey Missing In Action December 2, 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 "   Litton,  Jay F.           MM ** ~ Bari, Italy ~  Engine Cadet " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine Michigan Missing In Action December 2, 1943 White Chapel Cemetery Troy, MI " Yes " Cenotaph   Lounsbury,  Ivan B.           PH ~ Bari, Italy ~  Gunner's Mate Third Class " Armed Guard " U.S. Navy South Dakota Died Of Wounds December 6, 1943 Riverside Cemetery Huron, SD " Yes "   Lowry,  Albert A.           MM ** ~ Bari, Italy ~  Able-Bodied Seaman " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine New Jersey Missing In Action December 2, 1943 River Bend Cemetery Westerly, RI " 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 "   Martens,  Paul           MM ** ~ Bari, Italy ~ n/a Chief Steward " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine New Jersey Missing In Action December 2, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Mauricio,  Eugenio           MM ** ~ Bari, Italy ~  Fireman / Watertender " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine Pennsylvania Killed In Action December 2, 1943 Sicily-Rome American Cemetery Italy " Yes "   McGrath,  Edward A.           PH ~ Bari, Italy ~  Gunner's Mate Second Class " Armed Guard " U.S. Navy Florida Missing In Action December 2, 1943 Sicily-Rome American Cemetery Italy " Yes " Cenotaph   Misinonile,  Louis J.           MM ** ~ Bari, Italy ~  Messman " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine Connecticut Killed In Action December 2, 1943 Sicily-Rome American Cemetery Italy " Yes "   Morrissey,  John J.           PH ~ Bari, Italy ~  Seaman First Class " Armed Guard " U.S. Navy Massachusetts Missing In Action December 2, 1943 Sicily-Rome American Cemetery Italy " 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 "   Niles,  Graydon E.           MM ** ~ Bari, Italy ~  Wiper " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine Michigan Missing In Action December 2, 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'Brien,  Patrick           MM ** ~ Bari, Italy ~  Chief Mate " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine New York Killed In Action December 2, 1943 Sicily-Rome American Cemetery Italy " 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 "   Pizzo,  George D.           PH ~ Bari, Italy ~ n/a Seaman First Class " Armed Guard " U.S. Navy New York Died Of Wounds December 5, 1943 Calvary Cemetery Woodside, NY " Yes "   Popielarczyk,  Joseph A.           PH ~ Bari, Italy ~ n/a Seaman First Class " Armed Guard " U.S. Navy Massachusetts Missing In Action December 2, 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 "   Rokoszak,  Bernard W.           PH ~ Bari, Italy ~  Gunner's Mate Third Class " Armed Guard " U.S. Navy New York Killed In Action December 2, 1943 Sicily-Rome American Cemetery Italy " Yes "   Rovelo,  Marco S.           MM ** ~ Bari, Italy ~ n/a Able-Bodied Seaman " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine Honduras Missing In Action December 2, 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 "   Sadowy,  Philip           MM ** ~ Bari, Italy ~  Third Mate " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine New York Died Of Wounds December 6, 1943 Saint Nicholas Cemetery Troy, NY " Yes "   Servay,  Andrew           MM ** ~ Bari, Italy ~ n/a Messman " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine Indiana Missing In Action December 2, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Shearer,  Edward H.           MM ** ~ Bari, Italy ~ n/a Third Engineer " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine Pennsylvania Missing In Action December 2, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Sherwood,  Reuel E., II           PH ~ Bari, Italy ~  Ensign " Armed Guard " U.S. Navy West Virginia Died Of Wounds December 5, 1943 Sicily-Rome American Cemetery Italy " Yes "   Soling,  William H.           MM ** ~ Bari, Italy ~ n/a Ordinary Seaman " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine Illinois Missing In Action December 2, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Spatharos,  Emanuel           MM ** ~ Bari, Italy ~  Fireman / Watertender " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine New York Died Of Wounds December 6, 1943 Sicily-Rome American Cemetery Italy " Yes "   Stevens,  George R.           PH ~ Bari, Italy ~  Seaman First Class " Armed Guard " U.S. Navy West Virginia Missing In Action December 2, 1943 Sicily-Rome American Cemetery Italy " 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 "   Taboada,  Eduardo           MM ** ~ Bari, Italy ~ n/a Able-Bodied Seaman " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine New York Missing In Action December 2, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Tardanico,  Daniel           PH ~ Bari, Italy ~  Seaman First Class " Armed Guard " U.S. Navy New Jersey Killed In Action December 2, 1943 Sicily-Rome American Cemetery Italy " Yes "   Thurmond,  John L.           MM ** ~ Bari, Italy ~ n/a Purser " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine Connecticut Missing In Action December 2, 1943 Cemetery / Memorial " Not Found " " Yes " Cenotaph   Trapasso,  Thomas J.           PH ~ Bari, Italy ~  Seaman First Class " Armed Guard " U.S. Navy Massachusetts Killed In Action December 2, 1943 Sicily-Rome American Cemetery Italy " Yes "   Tsimenis,  Constantine           MM ** ~ Bari, Italy ~ n/a Master " Captain " " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine New York Missing In Action December 2, 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 "   Waseck,  Walter W.           PH ~ Bari, Italy ~  Gunner's Mate Third Class " Armed Guard " U.S. Navy New Jersey Missing In Action December 2, 1943 Sicily-Rome American Cemetery Italy " Yes " Cenotaph   Wittland,  Harold L.           PH ~ Bari, Italy ~  Gunner's Mate Third Class " Armed Guard " U.S. Navy Illinois Died Of Wounds December 18, 1943 Craigtown Cemetery Payson, IL " Yes " Cenotaph Last Names starting with " X " ~ " 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 "   Yewell,  Fulton E., Jr.           MM ** ~ Bari, Italy ~  Second Mate " Ship's Crew " Merchant Marine Maryland Missing In Action December 2, 1943 Maryland National WW II Memorial Annapolis, 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 "   Zahorsky,  John, Jr.           PH ~ Bari, Italy ~  Seaman First Class " Armed Guard " U.S. Navy Pennsylvania Missing In Action December 2, 1943 Sicily-Rome American Cemetery Italy " Yes " Cenotaph Email any questions or comments to: Russ Pickett ( russpickde@comcast.net )