Served during World War II on the Freighter SS Merrimack, along with his brother John Henry Starkey, in the U.S. Merchant Marines. The ship was sunk by enemy forces on June 9, 1942 and both were lost at sea. This memorial to the Starkey Brothers was placed in the cemetery by JW Kinchen.
~ ~ ~
Woodrow served as a Wiper, U.S.A.T. Merrimack, U.S. Merchant Marines during World War II.
He resided in Woodhaven, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana prior to the war.
The unescorted U.S.A.T. Merrimack was en route from New Orleans, Louisiana to Cristobal, Panama with a load of Military supplies and a crew of " 54 ". They were hit by one stern torpedo fired by German Submarine U-107 about 65 miles southeast of Cozumel Island, south of the Yucatan Channel. The torpedo struck on the starboard side just forward of the bridge and the ship immediately developed a 20 degree list to starboard and the ship sank 38 minutes after the hit.
All officers, except the master, and 30 other survivors abandoned ship in one lifeboat because the other was destroyed in the explosion. That lifeboat was sucked into the still turning screw and it appears that none of the occupants survived the incident. The men still aboard, including the master, had to jump overboard but only a few managed to reach the rafts that had been released. The Master " Wilbur Flowers ", " 34 " crew members, " 8 " armed guards and " 1 " US Army passenger were lost.
Woodrow was declared " Missing In Action " in this sinking during the war.
He was posthumously awarded the Mariner's Medal and the Combat Bar with a Star !
Woodrow's headstone notes that he and his brother John were in the " U.S. Marine Corps " (which is in error). They were actually in the " U.S. Merchant Marines ! "
They are both also honored on the webpage located at:
http://www.russpickett.com/history/usmerr.htm
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
~ ~ ~
Woodrow served as a Wiper, U.S.A.T. Merrimack, U.S. Merchant Marines during World War II.
He resided in Woodhaven, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana prior to the war.
The unescorted U.S.A.T. Merrimack was en route from New Orleans, Louisiana to Cristobal, Panama with a load of Military supplies and a crew of " 54 ". They were hit by one stern torpedo fired by German Submarine U-107 about 65 miles southeast of Cozumel Island, south of the Yucatan Channel. The torpedo struck on the starboard side just forward of the bridge and the ship immediately developed a 20 degree list to starboard and the ship sank 38 minutes after the hit.
All officers, except the master, and 30 other survivors abandoned ship in one lifeboat because the other was destroyed in the explosion. That lifeboat was sucked into the still turning screw and it appears that none of the occupants survived the incident. The men still aboard, including the master, had to jump overboard but only a few managed to reach the rafts that had been released. The Master " Wilbur Flowers ", " 34 " crew members, " 8 " armed guards and " 1 " US Army passenger were lost.
Woodrow was declared " Missing In Action " in this sinking during the war.
He was posthumously awarded the Mariner's Medal and the Combat Bar with a Star !
Woodrow's headstone notes that he and his brother John were in the " U.S. Marine Corps " (which is in error). They were actually in the " U.S. Merchant Marines ! "
They are both also honored on the webpage located at:
http://www.russpickett.com/history/usmerr.htm
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
Served during World War II on the Freighter SS Merrimack, along with his brother John Henry Starkey, in the U.S. Merchant Marines. The ship was sunk by enemy forces on June 9, 1942 and both were lost at sea. This memorial to the Starkey Brothers was placed in the cemetery by JW Kinchen.
~ ~ ~
Woodrow served as a Wiper, U.S.A.T. Merrimack, U.S. Merchant Marines during World War II.
He resided in Woodhaven, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana prior to the war.
The unescorted U.S.A.T. Merrimack was en route from New Orleans, Louisiana to Cristobal, Panama with a load of Military supplies and a crew of " 54 ". They were hit by one stern torpedo fired by German Submarine U-107 about 65 miles southeast of Cozumel Island, south of the Yucatan Channel. The torpedo struck on the starboard side just forward of the bridge and the ship immediately developed a 20 degree list to starboard and the ship sank 38 minutes after the hit.
All officers, except the master, and 30 other survivors abandoned ship in one lifeboat because the other was destroyed in the explosion. That lifeboat was sucked into the still turning screw and it appears that none of the occupants survived the incident. The men still aboard, including the master, had to jump overboard but only a few managed to reach the rafts that had been released. The Master " Wilbur Flowers ", " 34 " crew members, " 8 " armed guards and " 1 " US Army passenger were lost.
Woodrow was declared " Missing In Action " in this sinking during the war.
He was posthumously awarded the Mariner's Medal and the Combat Bar with a Star !
Woodrow's headstone notes that he and his brother John were in the " U.S. Marine Corps " (which is in error). They were actually in the " U.S. Merchant Marines ! "
They are both also honored on the webpage located at:
http://www.russpickett.com/history/usmerr.htm
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
~ ~ ~
Woodrow served as a Wiper, U.S.A.T. Merrimack, U.S. Merchant Marines during World War II.
He resided in Woodhaven, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana prior to the war.
The unescorted U.S.A.T. Merrimack was en route from New Orleans, Louisiana to Cristobal, Panama with a load of Military supplies and a crew of " 54 ". They were hit by one stern torpedo fired by German Submarine U-107 about 65 miles southeast of Cozumel Island, south of the Yucatan Channel. The torpedo struck on the starboard side just forward of the bridge and the ship immediately developed a 20 degree list to starboard and the ship sank 38 minutes after the hit.
All officers, except the master, and 30 other survivors abandoned ship in one lifeboat because the other was destroyed in the explosion. That lifeboat was sucked into the still turning screw and it appears that none of the occupants survived the incident. The men still aboard, including the master, had to jump overboard but only a few managed to reach the rafts that had been released. The Master " Wilbur Flowers ", " 34 " crew members, " 8 " armed guards and " 1 " US Army passenger were lost.
Woodrow was declared " Missing In Action " in this sinking during the war.
He was posthumously awarded the Mariner's Medal and the Combat Bar with a Star !
Woodrow's headstone notes that he and his brother John were in the " U.S. Marine Corps " (which is in error). They were actually in the " U.S. Merchant Marines ! "
They are both also honored on the webpage located at:
http://www.russpickett.com/history/usmerr.htm
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
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