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David Alfred Field Veteran

Birth
Death
2 Feb 1942 (aged 25)
At Sea
Burial
Buried or Lost at Sea. Specifically: Approximately 90 miles off the mouth of the Delaware River! Add to Map
Memorial ID
View Source
David served as a Wiper, S.S. W.L. Steed, U.S. Merchant Marines during World War II.

He resided in New York City, New York prior to the war.

The duties of a Wiper was to perform manual labor in the engine department, such as cleaning and painting and also assisted in repair work. He worked the day shift.

The unescorted & unarmed S.S. 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 one torpedo fired by " German submarine U-103 " about 90 miles off the mouth of the Delaware River. The torpedo struck the " S.S. W.L. Steed " on the starboard side in the #3 tank and set the ship on fire however the fire was soon extinguished by breaking seas. The submarine surfaced and the 9 officers and 29 crewmen abandoned ship in four lifeboats.

The German submarine then began shelling the tanker with 83 rounds from their deck gun and set her on fire again with 17 hits. The cargo soon exploded, sending flames 500 feet in the air. The W.L. Steed settled by the bow, capsized and sank in about 10 minutes.

Out of the ship's complement of "38", due to a snowstorm with rough seas, only "4" of the crew survived the sinking.

David 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.

Son of David Norindine Field (1894-1918) and Helena Patronella Makinen Field ( ? - 1929 ).

( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
David served as a Wiper, S.S. W.L. Steed, U.S. Merchant Marines during World War II.

He resided in New York City, New York prior to the war.

The duties of a Wiper was to perform manual labor in the engine department, such as cleaning and painting and also assisted in repair work. He worked the day shift.

The unescorted & unarmed S.S. 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 one torpedo fired by " German submarine U-103 " about 90 miles off the mouth of the Delaware River. The torpedo struck the " S.S. W.L. Steed " on the starboard side in the #3 tank and set the ship on fire however the fire was soon extinguished by breaking seas. The submarine surfaced and the 9 officers and 29 crewmen abandoned ship in four lifeboats.

The German submarine then began shelling the tanker with 83 rounds from their deck gun and set her on fire again with 17 hits. The cargo soon exploded, sending flames 500 feet in the air. The W.L. Steed settled by the bow, capsized and sank in about 10 minutes.

Out of the ship's complement of "38", due to a snowstorm with rough seas, only "4" of the crew survived the sinking.

David 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.

Son of David Norindine Field (1894-1918) and Helena Patronella Makinen Field ( ? - 1929 ).

( Bio by: Russ Pickett )

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