Essex served as a Private, 855th Engineer Battalion, Aviation, U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II.

He resided in the District Of Columbia prior to the war.

Essex was a passenger on the S.S. Cape San Juan (U.S.A.T).

The Cape San Juan, while transporting servicemen from San Francisco, California to Townsville, Australia, was hit & sunk by a Japanese torpedo fired from IJN Submarine I-21 approximately 300 miles southeast of Fiji. A reported 117 of those on board were declared missing.

Essex was declared "Missing In Action" in this sinking during the war.

He was awarded the Purple Heart.

Service # 33449700

( Bio by: Russ Pickett )

The 855th Engineer Battalion, Aviation, reportedly lost 99 soldiers in this sinking.

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For a listing of those that perished on the U.S.A.T. Cape San Juan: " Click Here "

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Those on board the Cape San Juan included: 57 Merchant Crewmen, 42 Navy Armed Guards, 3 radio operators, 21 "permanent" army personnel (3 officers and 18 enlisted men), 1 civilian, and 1,340 passengers. A total of 1,464.

The passengers included:

811 Officers & Enlisted men of the 855th Engineers (Aviation) Battalion.

367 Officers & Enlisted men of the 1st Fighter Control Squadron.

162 Officers & Enlisted men of the 253rd Ordnance (Aviation) Company.

( Notes & Listings by: Russ Pickett )

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Essex served as a Private, 855th Engineer Battalion, Aviation, U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II.

He resided in the District Of Columbia prior to the war.

Essex was a passenger on the S.S. Cape San Juan (U.S.A.T).

The Cape San Juan, while transporting servicemen from San Francisco, California to Townsville, Australia, was hit & sunk by a Japanese torpedo fired from IJN Submarine I-21 approximately 300 miles southeast of Fiji. A reported 117 of those on board were declared missing.

Essex was declared "Missing In Action" in this sinking during the war.

He was awarded the Purple Heart.

Service # 33449700

( Bio by: Russ Pickett )

The 855th Engineer Battalion, Aviation, reportedly lost 99 soldiers in this sinking.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

For a listing of those that perished on the U.S.A.T. Cape San Juan: " Click Here "

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Those on board the Cape San Juan included: 57 Merchant Crewmen, 42 Navy Armed Guards, 3 radio operators, 21 "permanent" army personnel (3 officers and 18 enlisted men), 1 civilian, and 1,340 passengers. A total of 1,464.

The passengers included:

811 Officers & Enlisted men of the 855th Engineers (Aviation) Battalion.

367 Officers & Enlisted men of the 1st Fighter Control Squadron.

162 Officers & Enlisted men of the 253rd Ordnance (Aviation) Company.

( Notes & Listings by: Russ Pickett )

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