The steam tanker " S.S. Otho " was built and completed in 1920 by the Todd Drydock & Construction Corp., Tacoma, Washington for the American-West African Line Inc., New York and was a 4,839 ton ship.

     On April 3, 1942 the unescorted " Otho " was enroute from Takoradi, Gold Coast to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with a cargo of 4400 tons of maganese ore, 1300 tons of palm oil and 750 tons of tin and a crew of 53 ( 10 officers, 26 merchant mariners, 10 U.S. Navy Armed Guards, and 7 Passengers ).

They were hit by a torpedo fired by
" German Submarine U-754 "
approximatley 200 miles east of Cape Henry, Virginia.

         The torpedo stuck on the starboard side amidship directly below the stack at the bulkhead between the #3 tank and the engine room.   The explosion severely damaged the vessel and caused her to sink after twelve minutes.   The Master, six officers, 16 crewmen, five armed guards and four passengers were lost.

The ship Master/Captain of the S.S. Otho was:

John Makkinje

who was lost in this sinking !

               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 to a Merchant Marine for being Wounded, Missing or Killed In Action ) MM *  ~  Awarded the " Combat Bar " ~ ( Awarded to a Merchant Marine who was under combat conditions ) MM **  ~  Awarded the " Combat Star " ~ ( Awarded to a Merchant Marine who was forced to abandon ship when attacked or damaged ) PH  ~  Awarded the " Purple Heart " ~ ( Awarded to U.S. 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 )         ( Those letters shown below in " Red " note none lost 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 ~ 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
Abrung,  Cenon MM ** off Virginia ~ ~ ~ ~ Cenon was born in Puerto Rico !	Fireman / Watertender	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 3, 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
Bailey,  George MM ** off Virginia ~ N/A	Oiler	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 3, 1942
Brennan,  John Joseph PH off Virginia ~	Ensign	" Armed Guard " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Navy	New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	East Coast Memorial ~ ~ ~ Manhattan, New York ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 3, 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
Cerabone,  Otto MM ** off Virginia ~ N/A " Family Link Included "	Third Engineer	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Connecticut ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 3, 1942
Correa,  James Eustachio MM ** off Virginia ~ N/A ~ ~ ~ James was born in Portugal !	Messman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 3, 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
DeDominicis,  Bernard Kenneth MM ** off Virginia ~ N/A	Radio Officer	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	New Jersey ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 3, 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
Efird,  Edward Lee PH off Virginia ~ " Family Link Included " ~ ~ ~ Edward was born in North Carolina !	Seaman 2nd Class	" Armed Guard " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Navy	North Carolina ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	East Coast Memorial ~ ~ ~ Manhattan, New York ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 3, 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
Fishburne,  Clement Daniel, Jr. MM ** off Virginia ~ " Family Link Included " ~ ~ ~ Clement was born in Virginia !	Able-Bodied Seaman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Virginia ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 3, 1942

Last Names starting with " G " ~ " H " ~ " I " ~ " J " and " K " " 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
Lindstrom,  Axel Harald MM ** off Virginia ~ ~ ~ ~ Axel was born in Sweden !	Bosun	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 3, 1942
Luaces,  Victor Otero MM ** off Virginia ~ ~ ~ ~ Victor was born in Spain !	Oiler	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 3, 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
Madison,  Osman George MM ** off Virginia ~ N/A ~ ~ ~ Osman was born in Jamaica !	Cook	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 3, 1942
Makkinje,  John MM ** off Virginia ~ ~ ~ ~ John was born in the Netherlands !	Master " Captain "	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 3, 1942
Manns,  Joseph Augustus MM ** off Virginia ~ ~ ~ ~ Joseph was born in the Virgin Islands !	Messman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 3, 1942
McFadyen,  John Donaldson MM ** off Virginia ~ " Family Link Included "	Able-Bodied Seaman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	North Carolina ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Raeford Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Raeford, North Carolina ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 3, 1942

Last Names starting with " N " " 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
Ortleb,  Otto Karl MM ** off Virginia ~ N/A ~ ~ ~ Otto was born in Germany !	Fireman / Watertender	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Florida ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 3, 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
Proctor,  Henry MM ** off Virginia ~ N/A	Messman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 3, 1942

Last Names starting with " Q " " 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
Richardson,  William George MM ** off Virginia ~ N/A " Family Link Included " ~ ~ ~ William was born in Delaware !	Chief Engineer	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 3, 1942
Rodriguez,  Julio MM ** off Virginia ~ ~ ~ ~ Julio was born in Spain !	Fireman / Watertender	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 3, 1942
Rodriguez,  Manuel MM ** off Virginia ~ ~ ~ ~ Manuel was born in Spain !	Oiler	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 3, 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
Scarborough,  Hiram Alton PH off Virginia ~ " Family Link Included "	Seaman 2nd Class	" Armed Guard " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Navy	Georgia ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	East Coast Memorial ~ ~ ~ Manhattan, New York ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 3, 1942
Schaper,  Fred Emil MM ** off Virginia ~ ~ ~ ~ Fred was born in Germany !	First Engineer	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 3, 1942
Seymour,  James Edward MM ** off Virginia ~ N/A ~ ~ ~ James was born in Massachusetts !	Able-Bodied Seaman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 3, 1942
Shotts,  S. B. PH off Virginia ~ N/A	Seaman 2nd Class	" Armed Guard " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Navy	Alabama ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	East Coast Memorial ~ ~ ~ Manhattan, New York ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 3, 1942
Smith,  Arthur Covell MM ** off Virginia ~ N/A ~ ~ ~ Arthur was born in New York !	Chief Mate	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 3, 1942

Last Names starting with " T " ~ " 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
Webb,  George Frederick MM ** off Virginia ~ N/A ~ ~ ~ George was born in England !	Steward	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Florida ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 3, 1942
Williams,  Fred Busbee MM ** off Virginia ~    " Family Link Included "	Junior 3rd Mate	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	South Carolina ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Woodridge Memorial Park ~ ~ ~ Lexington, South Carolina ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 3, 1942
Winters,  Albert Stanley MM ** off Virginia ~ N/A ~ ~ ~ Albert was born in England !	First Engineer	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 3, 1942

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

Email any questions or comments to:

Russ Pickett

( russpickde@comcast.net )