Eldwyn served as a Fireman/Watertender, S.S. Bienville, U.S. Merchant Marine during World War II.
He resided in Charlotte, North Carolina prior to the war.
The S.S. Bienville was en route from Calcutta, India to Columbo, Ceylon to pick up a load of manganese ore, jute, burlap and general cargo.
Before arriving at their destination the unescorted and unarmed S.S. Bienville, with a crew of "41", was attacked by Japanese aircraft from the Japanese carrier Ryujo and was hit at the Number 2 hatch, starting a fire. While the crew was fighting the fire two more Japanese aircraft attacked the Bienville.
Then the Japanese Heavy cruiser Chokai shelled and eventually sank the Bienville and in the process destroyed all but "1" of their lifeboats. The one remaining lifeboat picked up "24" of the crew of the ship and after a day at sea landed. However "5" of the crew later died of wounds leaving only "19" survivors of this attack.
Eldwyn was declared "Missing In Action" during the sinking of the Bienville during the war.
He was posthumously awarded the Mariner's Medal and the Combat Bar with a Star!
View the entire crew of the S.S. Bienville at the below link:
http://www.russpickett.com/history/ssbien.htm
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
He resided in Charlotte, North Carolina prior to the war.
The S.S. Bienville was en route from Calcutta, India to Columbo, Ceylon to pick up a load of manganese ore, jute, burlap and general cargo.
Before arriving at their destination the unescorted and unarmed S.S. Bienville, with a crew of "41", was attacked by Japanese aircraft from the Japanese carrier Ryujo and was hit at the Number 2 hatch, starting a fire. While the crew was fighting the fire two more Japanese aircraft attacked the Bienville.
Then the Japanese Heavy cruiser Chokai shelled and eventually sank the Bienville and in the process destroyed all but "1" of their lifeboats. The one remaining lifeboat picked up "24" of the crew of the ship and after a day at sea landed. However "5" of the crew later died of wounds leaving only "19" survivors of this attack.
Eldwyn was declared "Missing In Action" during the sinking of the Bienville during the war.
He was posthumously awarded the Mariner's Medal and the Combat Bar with a Star!
View the entire crew of the S.S. Bienville at the below link:
http://www.russpickett.com/history/ssbien.htm
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
Eldwyn served as a Fireman/Watertender, S.S. Bienville, U.S. Merchant Marine during World War II.
He resided in Charlotte, North Carolina prior to the war.
The S.S. Bienville was en route from Calcutta, India to Columbo, Ceylon to pick up a load of manganese ore, jute, burlap and general cargo.
Before arriving at their destination the unescorted and unarmed S.S. Bienville, with a crew of "41", was attacked by Japanese aircraft from the Japanese carrier Ryujo and was hit at the Number 2 hatch, starting a fire. While the crew was fighting the fire two more Japanese aircraft attacked the Bienville.
Then the Japanese Heavy cruiser Chokai shelled and eventually sank the Bienville and in the process destroyed all but "1" of their lifeboats. The one remaining lifeboat picked up "24" of the crew of the ship and after a day at sea landed. However "5" of the crew later died of wounds leaving only "19" survivors of this attack.
Eldwyn was declared "Missing In Action" during the sinking of the Bienville during the war.
He was posthumously awarded the Mariner's Medal and the Combat Bar with a Star!
View the entire crew of the S.S. Bienville at the below link:
http://www.russpickett.com/history/ssbien.htm
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
He resided in Charlotte, North Carolina prior to the war.
The S.S. Bienville was en route from Calcutta, India to Columbo, Ceylon to pick up a load of manganese ore, jute, burlap and general cargo.
Before arriving at their destination the unescorted and unarmed S.S. Bienville, with a crew of "41", was attacked by Japanese aircraft from the Japanese carrier Ryujo and was hit at the Number 2 hatch, starting a fire. While the crew was fighting the fire two more Japanese aircraft attacked the Bienville.
Then the Japanese Heavy cruiser Chokai shelled and eventually sank the Bienville and in the process destroyed all but "1" of their lifeboats. The one remaining lifeboat picked up "24" of the crew of the ship and after a day at sea landed. However "5" of the crew later died of wounds leaving only "19" survivors of this attack.
Eldwyn was declared "Missing In Action" during the sinking of the Bienville during the war.
He was posthumously awarded the Mariner's Medal and the Combat Bar with a Star!
View the entire crew of the S.S. Bienville at the below link:
http://www.russpickett.com/history/ssbien.htm
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
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