The steam tanker " S.S. W. L. Steed " was built in 1918 by the " Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation ", Quincy, Massachusetts for the " Pan American Petroleum and Transport Company ".   The ship was named after William L. Steed, superintendent of the Mexican Petroleum Company of California.   The " W. L. Steed " was used briefly during World War I.

         In 1932 the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey, New York became a major stock holder of Pan American Petrolum and became the new owners of the " W. L. Steed " whose home port became " Wilmington, Delaware ".

         On February 2, 1942 the unescorted and unarmed " W. L. Steed " was enroute from Cartagena, Columbia to New York City with a cargo of 65.936 barrels of crude oil.   They were hit by a stern torpedo fired by " German Submarine U-103 " approximatley 90 miles off the mouth of the Delaware River.

         The torpedo struck the #3 tank and set the ship on fire, which was soon extinguished by breaking seas.   The German Submarine surfaced and due to the damage done on the ship by the torpedo nine officers and 29 crewmen abandoned ship in four lifeboats.   The German Submarine then began shelling the tanker with 83 rounds from the deck gun and set her on fire again with 17 hits.   The tanker soon settled by the bow, capsized and sank in about 10 minutes.

         The " S.S. W. L. Steed " lost " 34 " of her crew with only " 4 survivors ".

         " German Submarine U-103 " damaged " 3 " ships ( 28,158 tons ) and also sank " 45 " ships ( 237,596 tons ) during World War II.   German U-Boat U-103 was decommissioned on March 13, 1944 at Memel and later used as training hulk at Gotenhafen.   In January 1945 it was transferred to Hamburg-Finkenwerder and used as power generating plant.   It was then transferred to Kiel in April 1945 and scuttled on May 3, 1945 at Kiel and the wreckage broken up.

The ship
Master/Captain
of the
" S.S. W. L. Steed "
was :

Harold Gerard McAvenia

who was lost in this sinking !

The " 4 " survivors were:

Joaquin Rama Brea  ~  Bosun ~ New York City, NY
Louis Hartz  ~  Able-Bodied Seaman ~ Philadelphia, PA
Ralph Fred Mazzucco  ~  Able-Bodied Seaman ~ Houston, TX
Sydney Wayland  ~  Second Mate ~ Winthrop, MA

The following below list was created in the memory of those who
" Gave Their All "
on the
" S.S. W. L. Steed ".

               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.

( Those letters shown in " Red " did not have names to list for 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
Andrade,  Oliveira MM **  ~  Off Delaware  ~  N/A	Cook	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	New Bedford, Massachusetts ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 2, 1942
Arroyo,  Jose Celso MM ** ~ Off Delaware ~ N/A	Able-Bodied Seaman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Puerto Rico ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 2, 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
Bone,  Ralph Adams MM ** ~ Off Delaware ~  " Family Link Included "	Fireman / Watertender	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Georgia ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Sharon Church Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Loganville, Georgia ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 2, 1942
Bornheimer,  Ernest George MM ** ~ Off Delaware ~	Chief Engineer	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Leonia, New Jersey ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 2, 1942
Boyhan,  John Francis MM ** ~ Off Delaware ~ N/A " Family Link Included "	Ordinary Seaman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Phoebus, Virginia ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 2, 1942
Bryant,  Waldo Ewing MM ** ~ Off Delaware ~ N/A	Able-Bodied Seaman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Baton Rouge, Louisiana ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 2, 1942
Burkholder,  Raymond Ralph MM ** ~ Off Delaware ~ N/A " Family Link Included "	Able-Bodied Seaman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Williamsport, Pennsylvania ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 2, 1942
Burrell,  William Richard MM ** ~ Off Delaware ~    " Family Link Included "	First Engineer	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Ohio ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Grandview Union Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Strasburg, Ohio ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 2, 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
Carlo,  John MM ** ~ Off Delaware ~ N/A	Fireman / Watertender	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Bayonne, New Jersey ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 2, 1942
Chandler,  Arthur Lloyd MM ** ~ Off Delaware ~ N/A " Family Link Included "	Ordinary Seaman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Denham Springs, Louisiana ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 2, 1942
Choate,  Edison Eddie MM ** ~ Off Delaware ~ N/A	Messman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Baton Rouge, Louisiana ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 2, 1942
Christiansen,  Walter Marvin MM ** ~ Off Delaware ~ N/A The S.S. " Walter M. Christiansen " was named in his honor !	Chief Engineer	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	New York City, New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 2, 1942

Last Names starting with " D " " 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
Elder,  Robert MM ** ~ Off Delaware ~ N/A	Storekeeper	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Jersey City, New Jersey ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 2, 1942
Erdos,  James MM ** ~ Off Delaware ~ N/A " Family Link Included "	Ordinary Seaman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Ohio ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Calvary Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Massillon, Ohio ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 2, 1942
Ezell,  Cecil Albert MM ** ~ Off Delaware ~ N/A	Third Mate	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	South Jacksonville, Florida ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 2, 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
Field,  David Alfred MM ** ~ Off Delaware ~ N/A	Wiper	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	New York City, New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 2, 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
Grant,  James Douglas MM ** ~ Off Delaware ~  " Family Link Included "	Machinist	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	New Orleans, Louisiana ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 2, 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
Hawkins,  Ernest Nelson MM ** ~ Off Delaware ~ N/A	Messman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Lake Worth, Florida ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 2, 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
Kyle,  Robert Taylor MM ** ~ Off Delaware ~ N/A	Oiler	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Brooklyn, New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 2, 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
Levet,  Jack MM ** ~ Off Delaware ~ N/A	Third Engineer	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	New York City, New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 2, 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
Maihiot,  Elmer Edmund, Jr. MM ** ~ Halifax, Nova Scotia  ~   " Family Link Included "	Second Engineer	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Melrose, Massachusetts ~ ~ ~ " Died " Of Exposure	New Town Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Rollinsford, New Hampshire ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph ~ ~ ~ Buried At Sea	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 15, 1942
McAvenia,  Harold Gerard MM ** ~ Off Delaware ~ N/A " Family Link Included "	Master / Captain	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Greenbush, Massachusetts ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 2, 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
Nilsson,  Einar Arnulf MM ** ~ Halifax, Nova Scotia ~ N/A	Chief Mate	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Brooklyn, New York ~ ~ ~ " Died " Of Exposure	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph ~ ~ ~ Buried At Sea	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 10, 1942

Last Names starting with " O " ~ " P " ~ " Q " and " R " " 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
Santosuosso,  Joseph MM ** ~ Off Delaware ~ N/A	Messman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Dorchester, Massachusetts ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 2, 1942
Shelton,  Ezra Wilford MM ** ~ Off Delaware ~ N/A " Family Link Included "	Oiler	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Liberty, Texas ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 2, 1942
Siltz,  Francis Ervin MM ** ~ Off Delaware ~ N/A The S.S. " Francis E. Siltz " was named in his honor !	Radio Officer	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Gresham, Oregon ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 2, 1942
Smith,  Leonard MM ** ~ Off Delaware ~ N/A	Wiper	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	" unknown " ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 2, 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
Tootle,  Walter Earl MM ** ~ Off Delaware ~  " Family Link Included "	Fireman / Watertender	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Louisiana ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Shiloh UM Church Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Reidsville, Georgia ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 2, 1942
Torres,  Laureano MM ** ~ Off Delaware ~ N/A	Oiler	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	New York City, New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 2, 1942
Tulane,  Walter Boston MM ** ~ Off Delaware ~	Pumpman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Louisiana ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Pine Crest Cemetery ~ ~ ~ Mobile, Alabama ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 2, 1942

Last Names starting with " U " " 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
Volkert,  Earl Ray MM ** ~ Off Delaware ~ N/A	Cook	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	St. Louis, Missouri ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 2, 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
Wagner,  Francis Joseph MM ** ~ Off Delaware ~ N/A " Family Link Included "	Messman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Roslindale, Massachusetts ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 2, 1942
Wahter,  Constantine MM ** ~ Off Delaware ~ N/A	Able-Bodied Seaman	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 2, 1942

Last Names starting with " X " and " Y " " 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
Zenos,  George Genitsoriotis MM ** ~ Off Delaware ~ N/A	Storekeeper	" Ship's Crew " ~ ~ ~ U.S. Merchant Marine	New York City, New York ~ ~ ~ " Missing " In Action	Currently None Found ~ ~ ~ Cenotaph	~ ~ ~ Last Bell : ~ ~ ~ February 2, 1942

Email any questions or comments to:

Russ Pickett

( russpickde@comcast.net )