Parents: Margaret Sophia (Hooker) and James Joseph Caffrey,
Married 28 Dec. 1922 at Mount Vernon, NY
Siblings: Margaret Carolyn and Elizabeth Ann

Although Mr. Caffrey died on April 5, 1943, he wasn't officially declared dead until April 6, 1944
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USNR
Service No: 2563993
Award: Purple Heart
Entered the Service from Washington, D.C.

In March 1943, the American tanker MS Sunoil was equipped with one 4in, one 3in and eight 20mm guns, and a 26-man gun crew that included Gunner's Mate 3rd Class EDWARD JOSEPH CAFFREY. On the 27th, Mr. Caffrey was on board as the tanker sailed out of New York with a 62-ship convoy, HX-231. Her cargo of 102,000 barrels of fuel oil was bound for Halifax and Scotland.

By Apr 5th, after leaving Halifax, the tanker had developed engine problems and was forced to fall back (straggle) from the convoy. German submarine U-563 spotted the zigzagging Sunoil and fired three torpedoes, one of which hit. The Armed Guards on board forced the U-boat to submerge, and a distress signal was heard by British ship HMS Vidette which came forward and averted another attack. Later that day, another submarine, U-530, spied the tanker and fired a spread of three torpedoes; one hit and the ship stopped. After being hit by two more torpedoes, the MS Sunoil quickly sank. A destroyer in the vicinity searched for any sign of the ship without success before returning to the convoy.

There were 43 Merchant Mariners and 26 US Navy Armed Guards on board; none survived.

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About the US NAVY ARMED GUARD
"The U.S. Navy Armed Guard was a service branch of the United States Navy that was responsible for defending U.S. and Allied merchant ships from attack by enemy aircraft, submarines and surface ships during World War II.
The men of the Armed Guard served as gunners, signal men and radio operators on cargo ships, tankers, troop ships and other merchant vessels..."
from:http://www.armed-guard.com/about-ag.html
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See also: Arlington National Cemetery
Note: family links can be found there.

Parents: Margaret Sophia (Hooker) and James Joseph Caffrey,
Married 28 Dec. 1922 at Mount Vernon, NY
Siblings: Margaret Carolyn and Elizabeth Ann

Although Mr. Caffrey died on April 5, 1943, he wasn't officially declared dead until April 6, 1944
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
USNR
Service No: 2563993
Award: Purple Heart
Entered the Service from Washington, D.C.

In March 1943, the American tanker MS Sunoil was equipped with one 4in, one 3in and eight 20mm guns, and a 26-man gun crew that included Gunner's Mate 3rd Class EDWARD JOSEPH CAFFREY. On the 27th, Mr. Caffrey was on board as the tanker sailed out of New York with a 62-ship convoy, HX-231. Her cargo of 102,000 barrels of fuel oil was bound for Halifax and Scotland.

By Apr 5th, after leaving Halifax, the tanker had developed engine problems and was forced to fall back (straggle) from the convoy. German submarine U-563 spotted the zigzagging Sunoil and fired three torpedoes, one of which hit. The Armed Guards on board forced the U-boat to submerge, and a distress signal was heard by British ship HMS Vidette which came forward and averted another attack. Later that day, another submarine, U-530, spied the tanker and fired a spread of three torpedoes; one hit and the ship stopped. After being hit by two more torpedoes, the MS Sunoil quickly sank. A destroyer in the vicinity searched for any sign of the ship without success before returning to the convoy.

There were 43 Merchant Mariners and 26 US Navy Armed Guards on board; none survived.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
About the US NAVY ARMED GUARD
"The U.S. Navy Armed Guard was a service branch of the United States Navy that was responsible for defending U.S. and Allied merchant ships from attack by enemy aircraft, submarines and surface ships during World War II.
The men of the Armed Guard served as gunners, signal men and radio operators on cargo ships, tankers, troop ships and other merchant vessels..."
from:http://www.armed-guard.com/about-ag.html
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

See also: Arlington National Cemetery
Note: family links can be found there.