The steam ship " S.S. Sixaola " was built in 1911 by the Workman, Clark and Company Ltd., Belfast, Ireland.   It was first acquired by the U.S. Navy and placed in commission as the " S.S. Sixaola #2777 " for service with the Naval Overseas Transportation Service.

         Shortly after World War I on February 23, 1919, while loading for her next voyage, the " Sixaola " caught fire at her New York pier.   Two lives were lost in the accident, and the ship was left partially capsized and sunk.

         The " Sixaola " was raised a few months later and, in mid-June, decommissioned and transferred to the War Department.   Following repairs, she was returned to her owners, the Carillo Steamship Company of New York which transferred it to the United Fruit S.S. Company of New York.

         On June 12, 1942 the unescorted " Sixaola " was en route from Cristobal, Panama with a final destination of New Orleans, Louisiana with a load of 900 tons of U.S. Army supplies, including trucks, trailers, clothing and foodstuffs and a crew of " 93 " and " 108 " passengers.

         They were first hit by two torpedos fired by " German Submarine U-159 " about 50 miles off Bocas del Toro, Panama.   The first torpedo struck the bow and the second torpedo in the center of the #2 hold.

         Those onboard immediately abandoned the ship on lifeboats and rafts.   However " 29 " of the crewmen died in the explosions while most of them lay sleeping in the quarters of the crew in the bow.

         " German Submarine U-159 ", after everyone was off the ship, fired one more torpedo at the " Sixaola " which hit on the port side amidship and the " Sixaola " sank by the stern.

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

               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 for being wounded, Missing or Killed In Action )

MM *   =  Awarded the " Combat Bar ( Ribbon ) "
               ( Awarded to those who served under combat conditions )

MM **  =  Awarded the " Combat Star "
                ( Awarded to those who are forced to abandon ship when attacked or damaged )

PMM   =  Awarded the " Mariner's Prisoner of War Medal "
               ( Awarded to Mariner's held as prisoners of war during World War II )

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.

An " n/a " in the " Photo, Awards, or Notes 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.