Charley Dewhirst was the second child of Lillie (Rankin) and Frank Dewhirst's six chldren. His siblings were Allen Owen, Wilfred Louis, Abbie, Frank (died in infancy) and Mae
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
U.S. Merchant Marine
Service No: B 143892
Awards: Mariner's Medal, Atlantic War Zone Medal, Gallant Ship Citation Ribbon
Address of Record: Beaumont, Texas
Stanvac Calcutta
"When about 500 miles off the coast of Brazil, she was attacked by a heavily armed [German] raider [the Stier] which came up close on her in a heavy squall. Though armed with only a 4" rifle aft and a 3" anti-aircraft gun, the ship tried to escape in a running fight. On the 5th round fired, the SS Stanvac Calcutta knocked out one of the raiders 15 cm guns but the next round from the enemy guns shattered the pointers scope and sight bar. The crew continued to fight the gun by laying without sights until the ammunition magazine was hit and the ship began to sink. With 14 dead and 14 seriously injured, the crew was forced to abandon ship and were taken prisoners.
This heroic defense against overwhelming odds caused the name of the SS Stanvac Calcutta to be perpetuated as a Gallant Ship."
http://www.usmm.org/gallantships.html
The Gallant Ship Award
The Gallant Ship Award is presented by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to any U.S.-flag or foreign ship "participating in outstanding or gallant action in a marine disaster or other emergency to save life or property at sea".
The award originates from an executive order issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during World War II, which recognizes excellence and bravery in merchant mariners. Between 1942 and 1994 just 41 ships have received the Gallant Ship Award.
https://www.maritime.dot.gov/history/gallant-ship-award/gallant-ship-award
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
U.S. Merchant Marine
Service No: B 143892
Awards: Mariner's Medal, Atlantic War Zone Medal, Gallant Ship Citation Ribbon
Address of Record: Beaumont, Texas
Stanvac Calcutta
"When about 500 miles off the coast of Brazil, she was attacked by a heavily armed [German] raider [the Stier] which came up close on her in a heavy squall. Though armed with only a 4" rifle aft and a 3" anti-aircraft gun, the ship tried to escape in a running fight. On the 5th round fired, the SS Stanvac Calcutta knocked out one of the raiders 15 cm guns but the next round from the enemy guns shattered the pointers scope and sight bar. The crew continued to fight the gun by laying without sights until the ammunition magazine was hit and the ship began to sink. With 14 dead and 14 seriously injured, the crew was forced to abandon ship and were taken prisoners.
This heroic defense against overwhelming odds caused the name of the SS Stanvac Calcutta to be perpetuated as a Gallant Ship."
http://www.usmm.org/gallantships.html
The Gallant Ship Award
The Gallant Ship Award is presented by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to any U.S.-flag or foreign ship "participating in outstanding or gallant action in a marine disaster or other emergency to save life or property at sea".
The award originates from an executive order issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during World War II, which recognizes excellence and bravery in merchant mariners. Between 1942 and 1994 just 41 ships have received the Gallant Ship Award.
https://www.maritime.dot.gov/history/gallant-ship-award/gallant-ship-award
Charley Dewhirst was the second child of Lillie (Rankin) and Frank Dewhirst's six chldren. His siblings were Allen Owen, Wilfred Louis, Abbie, Frank (died in infancy) and Mae
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
U.S. Merchant Marine
Service No: B 143892
Awards: Mariner's Medal, Atlantic War Zone Medal, Gallant Ship Citation Ribbon
Address of Record: Beaumont, Texas
Stanvac Calcutta
"When about 500 miles off the coast of Brazil, she was attacked by a heavily armed [German] raider [the Stier] which came up close on her in a heavy squall. Though armed with only a 4" rifle aft and a 3" anti-aircraft gun, the ship tried to escape in a running fight. On the 5th round fired, the SS Stanvac Calcutta knocked out one of the raiders 15 cm guns but the next round from the enemy guns shattered the pointers scope and sight bar. The crew continued to fight the gun by laying without sights until the ammunition magazine was hit and the ship began to sink. With 14 dead and 14 seriously injured, the crew was forced to abandon ship and were taken prisoners.
This heroic defense against overwhelming odds caused the name of the SS Stanvac Calcutta to be perpetuated as a Gallant Ship."
http://www.usmm.org/gallantships.html
The Gallant Ship Award
The Gallant Ship Award is presented by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to any U.S.-flag or foreign ship "participating in outstanding or gallant action in a marine disaster or other emergency to save life or property at sea".
The award originates from an executive order issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during World War II, which recognizes excellence and bravery in merchant mariners. Between 1942 and 1994 just 41 ships have received the Gallant Ship Award.
https://www.maritime.dot.gov/history/gallant-ship-award/gallant-ship-award
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
U.S. Merchant Marine
Service No: B 143892
Awards: Mariner's Medal, Atlantic War Zone Medal, Gallant Ship Citation Ribbon
Address of Record: Beaumont, Texas
Stanvac Calcutta
"When about 500 miles off the coast of Brazil, she was attacked by a heavily armed [German] raider [the Stier] which came up close on her in a heavy squall. Though armed with only a 4" rifle aft and a 3" anti-aircraft gun, the ship tried to escape in a running fight. On the 5th round fired, the SS Stanvac Calcutta knocked out one of the raiders 15 cm guns but the next round from the enemy guns shattered the pointers scope and sight bar. The crew continued to fight the gun by laying without sights until the ammunition magazine was hit and the ship began to sink. With 14 dead and 14 seriously injured, the crew was forced to abandon ship and were taken prisoners.
This heroic defense against overwhelming odds caused the name of the SS Stanvac Calcutta to be perpetuated as a Gallant Ship."
http://www.usmm.org/gallantships.html
The Gallant Ship Award
The Gallant Ship Award is presented by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to any U.S.-flag or foreign ship "participating in outstanding or gallant action in a marine disaster or other emergency to save life or property at sea".
The award originates from an executive order issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during World War II, which recognizes excellence and bravery in merchant mariners. Between 1942 and 1994 just 41 ships have received the Gallant Ship Award.
https://www.maritime.dot.gov/history/gallant-ship-award/gallant-ship-award
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