( Photo courtesy of Texaco Archives ) " Special Thanks go to " TWO " Remarkable Websites " : " usmm.org " ~    AND    ~ " uboat.net " Please visit these great websites for more by clicking above !

" Note "

The S.S. Oklahoma was attacked "twice" during World War II.

Both attacks resulted in the loss of some of her crew.

This page displays those lost in the
" First Attack "
on April 8, 1942 !

Sunday,
" September 10, 2023 "

Disabled on April 8, 1942 the

" S.S. Oklahoma "

loss " 19 " of her crew !

         The " S.S. Oklahoma " was built in 1940 by the Sun Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company, Chester, Pennsylvania.   The " Oklahoma " weighed 9,298 tons and was owned by the The Texas Company, Wilmington, Delaware.   She was attacked " twice " during World War II.

         The " Oklahoma " was first attacked in very shallow waters by German U-123 about 10 miles off St. Simon's Island, Georgia on April 8, 1942 with a loss of 19 of her crew.   She was towed back to Chester, Pennsylvania and " restored to service ".

         The unescorted and unarmed " S.S. Oklahoma " was hit by one G7a torpedo from " German Submarine U-123 " about 10 miles off St. Simon's Island, Georgia.   The U-boat had spotted two tankers and one freighter in the bright moonlight.

         The torpedo struck the engine room and the " Oklahoma " quickly settled by the stern in 40 feet of water and the stern rested on the bottom after 45 minutes with the bow still visible over the water.

         Most of the eight officers and 29 men abandoned ship in three lifeboats, but the master and three men reboarded the vessel when they heard screams.   They found one of the officers critically wounded, who subsequently died, and they could not reach some of the 18 missing men apparently trapped below.   The radio operator sent another distress message and then abandoned ship again.

         As fate would have it the same U-boat then torpedoed the " S.S. Esso Baton Rouge " at 08.44 hours which caught fire and sank in shallow waters with a loss of 3 Merchant Mariners.   The U-boat then returned to finish off the " S.S. Oklahoma " with gunfire.

The Master/Captain of the S.S. Oklahoma who survived this sinking:

Theron P. Davenport

The following below list was created in the memory of those who
" Gave Their All "
on the
" S.S. Oklahoma "
in this first attack !

               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 ( Ribbon ) "
              ( Awarded to a Merchant Marine who served under combat conditions )

MM **  ~  Awarded the " Combat Star "
                ( Awarded to a Merchant Marine who is forced to abandon ship when attacked or damaged )

PMM  ~  Awarded the " Mariner's Prisoner of War Medal "
               ( Awarded to a Merchant Marine who is held as a prisoners of war during World War II )

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.

An " N/A " in the " Photo or Awards 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.

( Those letters shown below in " Red " note none lost in this attack 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 Names starting with " A " " 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
Baker,  Herman V. MM ** off Georgia ~ N/A	Able-Bodied Seaman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Port Arthur, Texas ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 8, 1942
Boyd,  Joseph Francis MM ** off Georgia ~ N/A	Ordinary Seaman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	New York City, New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 8, 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
Carmona,  Alfredo MM ** off Georgia ~	Wiper	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Puerto Rico ~ ~ ~ " Killed " In Action	Palmetto Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Brunswick, Georgia	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 8, 1942
Chorman,  Mattias Joseph MM ** off Georgia ~ N/A	Messman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Staten Island, New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 8, 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
Dooley,  Richard Addis MM ** off Georgia ~ " Family Link Included "	Utility Man	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Colorado ~ ~ ~ " Killed " In Action	Evergreen Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 8, 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
Edgar,  Arlice Darrell MM ** off Georgia ~	Ordinary Seaman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Texas ~ ~ ~ " Killed " In Action	Harpers Chapel Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Sabinetown, Texas	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 8, 1942

Last Names starting with " F " " 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
Geary,  Joseph William MM ** Off Georgia ~    " Family Link Included "	Second Cook	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Massachusetts ~ ~ ~ " Killed " In Action	Palmetto Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Brunswick, Georgia	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 8, 1942
Genter,  Arthur James MM ** off Georgia ~ " Family Link Included "	Oiler	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Louisiana ~ ~ ~ " Killed " In Action	Palmetto Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Brunswick, Georgia	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 8, 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
Hance,  Lastie MM ** off Georgia ~ " Family Link Included "	Fireman / Water Tender	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Louisiana ~ ~ ~ " Killed " In Action	Durio Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Allen Parish, Louisiana	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 8, 1942
Howell,  William Lawrence MM ** off Georgia ~ " Family Link Included "	Second Engineer	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Texas ~ ~ ~ " Killed " In Action	Greenlawn Memorial Park ~ ~ ~ Groves, Texas	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 8, 1942

Last Names starting with " I " and " J " " 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
Kroy,  Frank Joseph MM ** Off Georgia ~    " Family Link Included "	Able-Bodied Seaman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Texas ~ ~ ~ " Killed " In Action	Greenlawn Memorial Park ~ ~ ~ Groves, Texas	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 8, 1942

Last Names starting with " L " " 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
Majba,  Stanley J. MM ** off Georgia ~ " Family Link Included "	Fireman / Water Tender	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Pennsylvania ~ ~ ~ " Killed " In Action	St. James Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Crossingville, Pennsylvania	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 8, 1942
McGregor,  Robert Malcolm MM ** off Georgia ~ N/A	Wiper	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Patterson, New Jersey ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 8, 1942
Mott,  James Edward MM ** off Georgia ~ " Family Link Included "	Fireman / Water Tender	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Louisiana ~ ~ ~ " Killed " In Action	Glenmora Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Glenmora, Louisiana	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 8, 1942

Last Names starting with " N " and " O " " 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
Price,  John MM ** off Georgia ~ " Family Link Included "	Oiler	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Georgia ~ ~ ~ " Killed " In Action	Hillcrest Abbey East Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Savannah, Georgia	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 8, 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
Riley,  James MM ** off Georgia ~ N/A	Messman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	New York City, New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 8, 1942
Rivette,  Charles MM ** Off Georgia ~    " Family Link Included "	Ordinary Seaman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Texas ~ ~ ~ " Killed " In Action	Palmetto Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Brunswick, Georgia	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 8, 1942
Ryder,  Osswald      ( aka. Aswald Ryder ) MM ** off Georgia ~ " Family Link Included " ~ ~ ~ On the headstone he has with his parents his name is shown as " Aswald " !	Messman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Louisiana ~ ~ ~ " Killed " In Action	Palmetto Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Brunswick, Georgia	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 8, 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
Sistrunk,  Charles Patrick MM ** off Georgia ~ N/A	Ordinary Seaman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Mitchell, Louisiana ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ April 8, 1942

Last Names starting with " T " ~ " U " ~ " V " ~ " W " ~ " X " ~ " Y " and " Z " " There Were None Lost ! "

Email any questions or comments to:

Russ Pickett

( russpickde@comcast.net )