S.S. Steel Navigator

Merchant Marine Flag

U.S. Merchant Ship
World War II
   
All lettering shown in " BLUE " on this website are links
   
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S.S. West Chetac
( Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart )

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" Special Thanks go to " TWO " Remarkable Websites " :

American Merchant Marine

" usmm.org "

~    AND    ~

American Merchant Marine

" uboat.net "

Please visit these great websites for more by
clicking above !

 
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WW II
Volunteer

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Progress

WW II

Tuesday,
" September 12, 2023 "

( Originally created in October, 2015 )


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Sinking on September 24, 1942 the

" S.S. West Chetac "

lost " 31 " men !

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The steam tanker " S.S. West Chetac " was built in 1919
by the South Western Shipbuilding Company, San Pedro, California
for the Seas Shipping Company Inc., New York City, New York.

         On September 24, 1942 the " S.S. West Chetac " was en route from Norfolk, Virginia with a final destination of Basra, Iraq with a cargo of 6097 tons of general war supplies and a crew of " 50 " that included " 9 " officers, " 30 " Merchant crewmen and " 11 " Navy armed guards.

         They were hit by a torpedo fired by " German Submarine U-175 " about 100 miles north of Georgetown, British Guiana.   The torpedo struck on the port side at the #2 hold and the explosion blew off the hatch covers and beams and caused the ship to sink by the bow within two minutes.   " 3 " officers, " 14 " crewmen and " 2 " armed guards rescued themselves on three rafts and " 31 " others on board perished.

         The survivors were picked up on October 1, 1942 by " U.S.S. Roe ( DD 418 ) " about 20 miles off Trinidad and landed at Port of Spain, where six crewmen and the armed guards were hospitalized.

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The ship Master / Captain of the " S.S. West Chetac " was:

" Frank Mathew Jasper "

Of Minneapolis, Minnesota who was lost in this sinking !

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

               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 the Merchant Mariners for being wounded, Missing or Killed In Action )

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

MM **  =  Awarded the " Combat Star " ~ ( Awarded to those 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 " )

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

Cenotaph  =  A memorial stone only  ~  " OR "  ~  Remains not recovered  ~  " OR "  ~  Interred somewhere unknown.

( www.usmm.org/medals.html )        

( Those letters shown in " Bright Blue " below " currently " have Mariner's & Sailor's listed ! )

( Those letters shown in " Red " below " currently " have no Mariner's & Sailor's listed 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 ]

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Last Names starting with ~ " A "
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   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


  Bernstein,  Leo Hyman

MM **
off British Guiana ~ N/A
Messman

" Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
Merchant
Marine
San Francisco,
California
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action
Currently
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph


~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
September 24,
1942

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   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


  Cortez,  Demetrio Halili

MM **
off British Guiana ~   
Chief
Cook

" Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
Merchant
Marine
Baltimore,
Maryland
" Click Here "
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action
Maryland
National
World War II
Memorial
~ ~ ~
Annapolis,
Maryland
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph


~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
September 24,
1942

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   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


  Deidrick,  James C. V.

MM **
off British Guiana ~ N/A
Third
Engineer

" Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
Merchant
Marine
Florida
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action
Currently
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph


~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
September 24,
1942


  DeVito,  Frank

MM **
off British Guiana ~ N/A
Wiper

" Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
Merchant
Marine
New York
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action
Currently
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph


~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
September 24,
1942

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   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


  Ellard,  Daniel, Jr.

MM **
off British Guiana ~ N/A
Messman

" Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
Merchant
Marine
Massachusetts
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action
Currently
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph


~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
September 24,
1942

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   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


  Fielding,  Thomas Richard

PH
off British Guiana ~

" Family Link Included "
Seaman
1st Class
~ ~ ~
Armed
Guard
U.S. Navy
Florida
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action
East Coast
Memorial
~ ~ ~
Manhattan,
New York
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph


~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
September 24,
1942


  Flippen,  Russell B.

MM **
off British Guiana ~ N/A

" Family Link Included "
Carpenter

" Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
Merchant
Marine
Florida
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action
Currently
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph


~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
September 24,
1942

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Last Names starting with ~ " G "
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   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


  Hazard,  Arthur White

MM **
off British Guiana ~   

" Family Link Included "
Chief
Engineer

" Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
Merchant
Marine
New York
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action
Cedar Grove
Cemetery
~ ~ ~
New London,
Connecticut
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph


~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
September 24,
1942


  Helmbold,  William Charles, Jr.

MM **
off British Guiana ~ N/A
Radio
Officer

" Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
Merchant
Marine
New York
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action
Currently
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph


~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
September 24,
1942


  Honigman,  Louis

MM **
off British Guiana ~

" Family Link Included "
Chief
Steward

" Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
Merchant
Marine
Baltimore,
Maryland
" Click Here "
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action
Maryland
National
World War II
Memorial
~ ~ ~
Annapolis,
Maryland
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph


~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
September 24,
1942

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Last Names starting with ~ " I "
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   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


  Jasper,  Frank Mathew

MM **
off British Guiana ~

" Family Link Included "
Master
" Captain "

" Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
Merchant
Marine
Minnesota
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action
Fort Snelling
National
Cemetery
~ ~ ~
Minneapolis,
Minnesota
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph


~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
September 24,
1942


  Johnson,  John A.

MM **
off British Guiana ~

Third
Mate

" Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
Merchant
Marine
Baltimore,
Maryland
" Click Here "
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action
Maryland
National
World War II
Memorial
~ ~ ~
Annapolis,
Maryland
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph


~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
September 24,
1942

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   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


  Kelly,  Raymond

MM **
off British Guiana ~ N/A
Able
Bodied
Seaman

" Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
Merchant
Marine
New York
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action
Currently
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph


~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
September 24,
1942

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   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


  Lakin,  Sanford Irvin

PH
off British Guiana ~   
Seaman
1st Class
~ ~ ~
Armed
Guard
U.S. Navy
Ohio
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action
East Coast
Memorial
~ ~ ~
Manhattan,
New York
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph


~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
September 24,
1942


  Lott,  Alvin Orie

PH
off British Guiana ~

Seaman
2nd Class
~ ~ ~
Armed
Guard
U.S. Navy
Illinois
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action
East Coast
Memorial
~ ~ ~
Manhattan,
New York
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph


~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
September 24,
1942

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   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


  Malloy,  George Ulmer

PH
off British Guiana ~

Seaman
2nd Class
~ ~ ~
Armed
Guard
U.S. Navy
Indiana
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action
East Coast
Memorial
~ ~ ~
Manhattan,
New York
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph


~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
September 24,
1942


  Mann,  James Russell

PH
off British Guiana ~

Seaman
2nd Class
~ ~ ~
Armed
Guard
U.S. Navy
Ohio
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action
East Coast
Memorial
~ ~ ~
Manhattan,
New York
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph


~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
September 24,
1942


  Matthews,  Paul Allen

PH
off British Guiana ~

Seaman
2nd Class
~ ~ ~
Armed
Guard
U.S. Navy
Missouri
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action
East Coast
Memorial
~ ~ ~
Manhattan,
New York
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph


~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
September 24,
1942


  McDaniel,  Chester

PH
off British Guiana ~

" Family Link Included "
Seaman
2nd Class
~ ~ ~
Armed
Guard
U.S. Navy
Minnesota
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action
East Coast
Memorial
~ ~ ~
Manhattan,
New York
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph


~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
September 24,
1942


  McNish,  Roy

MM **
off British Guiana ~ N/A
Oiler

" Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
Merchant
Marine
Pennsylvania
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action
Currently
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph


~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
September 24,
1942


  Meade,  William T.

PH
off British Guiana ~

Seaman
2nd Class
~ ~ ~
Armed
Guard
U.S. Navy
Ohio
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action
East Coast
Memorial
~ ~ ~
Manhattan,
New York
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph


~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
September 24,
1942


  Miller,  Joseph

MM **
off British Guiana ~ N/A
Oiler

" Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
Merchant
Marine
Alabama
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action
Currently
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph


~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
September 24,
1942


  Montgakes,  Antone Peter

MM **
off British Guiana ~ N/A
Junior
Third
Engineer

" Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
Merchant
Marine
New York
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action
Currently
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph


~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
September 24,
1942


  Murawski,  John James

PH
off British Guiana ~

Seaman
2nd Class
~ ~ ~
Armed
Guard
U.S. Navy
Illinois
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action
East Coast
Memorial
~ ~ ~
Manhattan,
New York
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph


~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
September 24,
1942

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Last Names starting with ~ " N " and " O "
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   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


  Palmer,  Robert Valentine

MM **
off British Guiana ~ N/A
Deck
Cadet

" Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
Merchant
Marine
New York
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action
Currently
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph


~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
September 24,
1942


  Parker,  George Wakefield

MM **
off British Guiana ~

" Family Link Included "
Second
Mate

" Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
Merchant
Marine
Georgia
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action
Oakdale
Cemetery
~ ~ ~
Wilmington,
North
Carolina
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph


~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
September 24,
1942


  Poirrier,  Emmett Lindsdale

MM **
off British Guiana ~ N/A
Wiper

" Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
Merchant
Marine
Louisiana
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action
Currently
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph


~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
September 24,
1942

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Last Names starting with ~ " Q " and " R "
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   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


  Smith,  Henry

MM **
off British Guiana ~

Able
Bodied
Seaman

" Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
Merchant
Marine
Canada
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action
Halifax
Memorial
~ ~ ~
Halifax,
Canada
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph


~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
September 24,
1942

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   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


  Twiss,  Clifford Boerum

MM **
off British Guiana ~ N/A
Messman

" Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
Merchant
Marine
Connecticut
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action
Currently
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph


~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
September 24,
1942

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Last Names starting with ~ " U " and " V "
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   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


  Williams,  John Brooks

MM **
off British Guiana ~

" Family Link Included "
Able
Bodied
Seaman

" Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
Merchant
Marine
Massachusetts
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action
Oak Ridge
Cemetery
~ ~ ~
Southbridge,
Massachusetts
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph


~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
September 24,
1942

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Last Names starting with ~ " X "
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   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


  Yates,  Thomas Worthy, Jr.

MM **
off British Guiana ~

Able
Bodied
Seaman

" Ship's Crew "
~ ~ ~
Merchant
Marine
New Jersey
~ ~ ~
" Missing "
In Action
Currently
None
Found
~ ~ ~
Cenotaph


~ ~ ~
Last Bell :
~ ~ ~
September 24,
1942

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Last Names starting with ~ " Z "
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Email any questions or comments to:

Russ Pickett

( russpickde@comcast.net )