US Navy WORLD WAR II
Lieutenant Junior Grade, John D. Harris MIA/KIA
Hometown: New York
Official Date of Death 5-Nov-43
Ship: Steam merchant (Liberty) William Clark
Service # O-095695
Awards: Purple Heart
Master: Master Walter Edmund Elian MIA/KIA
Mission: lend-lease cargo
Loss Date: 4-Nov-42
Death location: Baltic Sea
Cargo: 6337 tons of lend-lease cargo, including tires, ammunition, tanks and aircraft as deck cargo
Location: 71.02N, 13.05W - Grid AA 9513 off Greenland
Cause: Karl-Heinz Herbschleb U-354
Complement: 71 (31 dead and 40 survivors)
At 13.33 hours on 4 Nov, 1942, the unescorted William Clark (Master Walter Edmund Elian) was hit on the port side amidships by one of three torpedoes from U-354 off Jan Mayen Island. It is possible that the ship was earlier attacked and damaged by bombs from a German Ju88 aircraft of II./KG 30. The torpedo struck in the engine room, disabling the engine, flooding the room and killing the five men on watch below. 66 of the eight officers, 33 crewmen and 30 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 5in, one 3in and eight 20mm guns) abandoned ship in three lifeboats. The U-boat missed the ship with a torpedo at 14.00 hours and hit her ten minutes later with a coup de grâce on the starboard side amidships. The Liberty ship broke in two forward of the midship house and sank in a few minutes.
The lifeboats stayed together with the motorboat towing the other two, but they became separated in moderate seas. 26 survivors in one lifeboat were picked up after three days by HMS St. Elstan (FY 240) about 20 miles from the sinking position and landed at Reykjavik on 14 November. On 12 November, 15 survivors and two bodies in another boat were picked up by HMS Cape Palliser (FY 256), but an armed guard died before they were landed at Akureyri and two men lost their legs due to exposure. The motorboat with the master and 22 other men was never seen again after they set sail for Iceland. A total of four officers, 14 crewmen and 13 armed guards were lost.
The William Clark had left Boston in convoy BX-35, joined convoy SC-99 in Halifax and arrived in Iceland on 19 September. She was one of ten vessels sent unescorted and alone on the Murmansk run due to the high losses in previous convoys, but none of them reached their
destination.
Personnel associated with this vessel
Jay C. Allison Merchant Marine
John Anderson Merchant Marine
Randall Anderson, Jr. Merchant Marine
Harry W. Brown Merchant Marine
James Homer Carr USNR
Francisco Domingo Merchant Marine
Walter E. Elian Merchant Marine
Maxi S. Espejo Merchant Marine
Robert R. Everhart Merchant Marine
Len G. Fowler Merchant Marine
Herman G. Garritsen Merchant Marine
Maynard L. Grein Merchant Marine
John D. Harris USNR
Edward E. Hayden Merchant Marine
John Kenlngsberg Merchant Marine
Frank Martinez Merchant Marine
Joe J. Mosley Merchant Marine
Calvin D. Phillips USN
Eugene P. Poblacion Merchant Marine
Robert Price USNR
Jose Rodriquez USNR
James L. Ryan USNR
Joseph H. Seifert USNR
Joseph H. Seifert USNR
Peter J. Smith Merchant Marine
Eugene G. Suto USNR
Leslie S. Tervo USNR
Leslie S. Tervo USNR
William E. Thomas USNR
Elmo Trammel USN
Marvin N. R. Truman USN
Aaron E. Turner USN
Vincent E. Whaley Merchant Marine∼He attended New Philadelphia High School in Ohio 1931-1935 graduating in 1935.
Lieutenant Junior Grade, John D. Harris MIA/KIA
Hometown: New York
Official Date of Death 5-Nov-43
Ship: Steam merchant (Liberty) William Clark
Service # O-095695
Awards: Purple Heart
Master: Master Walter Edmund Elian MIA/KIA
Mission: lend-lease cargo
Loss Date: 4-Nov-42
Death location: Baltic Sea
Cargo: 6337 tons of lend-lease cargo, including tires, ammunition, tanks and aircraft as deck cargo
Location: 71.02N, 13.05W - Grid AA 9513 off Greenland
Cause: Karl-Heinz Herbschleb U-354
Complement: 71 (31 dead and 40 survivors)
At 13.33 hours on 4 Nov, 1942, the unescorted William Clark (Master Walter Edmund Elian) was hit on the port side amidships by one of three torpedoes from U-354 off Jan Mayen Island. It is possible that the ship was earlier attacked and damaged by bombs from a German Ju88 aircraft of II./KG 30. The torpedo struck in the engine room, disabling the engine, flooding the room and killing the five men on watch below. 66 of the eight officers, 33 crewmen and 30 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 5in, one 3in and eight 20mm guns) abandoned ship in three lifeboats. The U-boat missed the ship with a torpedo at 14.00 hours and hit her ten minutes later with a coup de grâce on the starboard side amidships. The Liberty ship broke in two forward of the midship house and sank in a few minutes.
The lifeboats stayed together with the motorboat towing the other two, but they became separated in moderate seas. 26 survivors in one lifeboat were picked up after three days by HMS St. Elstan (FY 240) about 20 miles from the sinking position and landed at Reykjavik on 14 November. On 12 November, 15 survivors and two bodies in another boat were picked up by HMS Cape Palliser (FY 256), but an armed guard died before they were landed at Akureyri and two men lost their legs due to exposure. The motorboat with the master and 22 other men was never seen again after they set sail for Iceland. A total of four officers, 14 crewmen and 13 armed guards were lost.
The William Clark had left Boston in convoy BX-35, joined convoy SC-99 in Halifax and arrived in Iceland on 19 September. She was one of ten vessels sent unescorted and alone on the Murmansk run due to the high losses in previous convoys, but none of them reached their
destination.
Personnel associated with this vessel
Jay C. Allison Merchant Marine
John Anderson Merchant Marine
Randall Anderson, Jr. Merchant Marine
Harry W. Brown Merchant Marine
James Homer Carr USNR
Francisco Domingo Merchant Marine
Walter E. Elian Merchant Marine
Maxi S. Espejo Merchant Marine
Robert R. Everhart Merchant Marine
Len G. Fowler Merchant Marine
Herman G. Garritsen Merchant Marine
Maynard L. Grein Merchant Marine
John D. Harris USNR
Edward E. Hayden Merchant Marine
John Kenlngsberg Merchant Marine
Frank Martinez Merchant Marine
Joe J. Mosley Merchant Marine
Calvin D. Phillips USN
Eugene P. Poblacion Merchant Marine
Robert Price USNR
Jose Rodriquez USNR
James L. Ryan USNR
Joseph H. Seifert USNR
Joseph H. Seifert USNR
Peter J. Smith Merchant Marine
Eugene G. Suto USNR
Leslie S. Tervo USNR
Leslie S. Tervo USNR
William E. Thomas USNR
Elmo Trammel USN
Marvin N. R. Truman USN
Aaron E. Turner USN
Vincent E. Whaley Merchant Marine∼He attended New Philadelphia High School in Ohio 1931-1935 graduating in 1935.
US Navy WORLD WAR II
Lieutenant Junior Grade, John D. Harris MIA/KIA
Hometown: New York
Official Date of Death 5-Nov-43
Ship: Steam merchant (Liberty) William Clark
Service # O-095695
Awards: Purple Heart
Master: Master Walter Edmund Elian MIA/KIA
Mission: lend-lease cargo
Loss Date: 4-Nov-42
Death location: Baltic Sea
Cargo: 6337 tons of lend-lease cargo, including tires, ammunition, tanks and aircraft as deck cargo
Location: 71.02N, 13.05W - Grid AA 9513 off Greenland
Cause: Karl-Heinz Herbschleb U-354
Complement: 71 (31 dead and 40 survivors)
At 13.33 hours on 4 Nov, 1942, the unescorted William Clark (Master Walter Edmund Elian) was hit on the port side amidships by one of three torpedoes from U-354 off Jan Mayen Island. It is possible that the ship was earlier attacked and damaged by bombs from a German Ju88 aircraft of II./KG 30. The torpedo struck in the engine room, disabling the engine, flooding the room and killing the five men on watch below. 66 of the eight officers, 33 crewmen and 30 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 5in, one 3in and eight 20mm guns) abandoned ship in three lifeboats. The U-boat missed the ship with a torpedo at 14.00 hours and hit her ten minutes later with a coup de grâce on the starboard side amidships. The Liberty ship broke in two forward of the midship house and sank in a few minutes.
The lifeboats stayed together with the motorboat towing the other two, but they became separated in moderate seas. 26 survivors in one lifeboat were picked up after three days by HMS St. Elstan (FY 240) about 20 miles from the sinking position and landed at Reykjavik on 14 November. On 12 November, 15 survivors and two bodies in another boat were picked up by HMS Cape Palliser (FY 256), but an armed guard died before they were landed at Akureyri and two men lost their legs due to exposure. The motorboat with the master and 22 other men was never seen again after they set sail for Iceland. A total of four officers, 14 crewmen and 13 armed guards were lost.
The William Clark had left Boston in convoy BX-35, joined convoy SC-99 in Halifax and arrived in Iceland on 19 September. She was one of ten vessels sent unescorted and alone on the Murmansk run due to the high losses in previous convoys, but none of them reached their
destination.
Personnel associated with this vessel
Jay C. Allison Merchant Marine
John Anderson Merchant Marine
Randall Anderson, Jr. Merchant Marine
Harry W. Brown Merchant Marine
James Homer Carr USNR
Francisco Domingo Merchant Marine
Walter E. Elian Merchant Marine
Maxi S. Espejo Merchant Marine
Robert R. Everhart Merchant Marine
Len G. Fowler Merchant Marine
Herman G. Garritsen Merchant Marine
Maynard L. Grein Merchant Marine
John D. Harris USNR
Edward E. Hayden Merchant Marine
John Kenlngsberg Merchant Marine
Frank Martinez Merchant Marine
Joe J. Mosley Merchant Marine
Calvin D. Phillips USN
Eugene P. Poblacion Merchant Marine
Robert Price USNR
Jose Rodriquez USNR
James L. Ryan USNR
Joseph H. Seifert USNR
Joseph H. Seifert USNR
Peter J. Smith Merchant Marine
Eugene G. Suto USNR
Leslie S. Tervo USNR
Leslie S. Tervo USNR
William E. Thomas USNR
Elmo Trammel USN
Marvin N. R. Truman USN
Aaron E. Turner USN
Vincent E. Whaley Merchant Marine∼He attended New Philadelphia High School in Ohio 1931-1935 graduating in 1935.
Lieutenant Junior Grade, John D. Harris MIA/KIA
Hometown: New York
Official Date of Death 5-Nov-43
Ship: Steam merchant (Liberty) William Clark
Service # O-095695
Awards: Purple Heart
Master: Master Walter Edmund Elian MIA/KIA
Mission: lend-lease cargo
Loss Date: 4-Nov-42
Death location: Baltic Sea
Cargo: 6337 tons of lend-lease cargo, including tires, ammunition, tanks and aircraft as deck cargo
Location: 71.02N, 13.05W - Grid AA 9513 off Greenland
Cause: Karl-Heinz Herbschleb U-354
Complement: 71 (31 dead and 40 survivors)
At 13.33 hours on 4 Nov, 1942, the unescorted William Clark (Master Walter Edmund Elian) was hit on the port side amidships by one of three torpedoes from U-354 off Jan Mayen Island. It is possible that the ship was earlier attacked and damaged by bombs from a German Ju88 aircraft of II./KG 30. The torpedo struck in the engine room, disabling the engine, flooding the room and killing the five men on watch below. 66 of the eight officers, 33 crewmen and 30 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 5in, one 3in and eight 20mm guns) abandoned ship in three lifeboats. The U-boat missed the ship with a torpedo at 14.00 hours and hit her ten minutes later with a coup de grâce on the starboard side amidships. The Liberty ship broke in two forward of the midship house and sank in a few minutes.
The lifeboats stayed together with the motorboat towing the other two, but they became separated in moderate seas. 26 survivors in one lifeboat were picked up after three days by HMS St. Elstan (FY 240) about 20 miles from the sinking position and landed at Reykjavik on 14 November. On 12 November, 15 survivors and two bodies in another boat were picked up by HMS Cape Palliser (FY 256), but an armed guard died before they were landed at Akureyri and two men lost their legs due to exposure. The motorboat with the master and 22 other men was never seen again after they set sail for Iceland. A total of four officers, 14 crewmen and 13 armed guards were lost.
The William Clark had left Boston in convoy BX-35, joined convoy SC-99 in Halifax and arrived in Iceland on 19 September. She was one of ten vessels sent unescorted and alone on the Murmansk run due to the high losses in previous convoys, but none of them reached their
destination.
Personnel associated with this vessel
Jay C. Allison Merchant Marine
John Anderson Merchant Marine
Randall Anderson, Jr. Merchant Marine
Harry W. Brown Merchant Marine
James Homer Carr USNR
Francisco Domingo Merchant Marine
Walter E. Elian Merchant Marine
Maxi S. Espejo Merchant Marine
Robert R. Everhart Merchant Marine
Len G. Fowler Merchant Marine
Herman G. Garritsen Merchant Marine
Maynard L. Grein Merchant Marine
John D. Harris USNR
Edward E. Hayden Merchant Marine
John Kenlngsberg Merchant Marine
Frank Martinez Merchant Marine
Joe J. Mosley Merchant Marine
Calvin D. Phillips USN
Eugene P. Poblacion Merchant Marine
Robert Price USNR
Jose Rodriquez USNR
James L. Ryan USNR
Joseph H. Seifert USNR
Joseph H. Seifert USNR
Peter J. Smith Merchant Marine
Eugene G. Suto USNR
Leslie S. Tervo USNR
Leslie S. Tervo USNR
William E. Thomas USNR
Elmo Trammel USN
Marvin N. R. Truman USN
Aaron E. Turner USN
Vincent E. Whaley Merchant Marine∼He attended New Philadelphia High School in Ohio 1931-1935 graduating in 1935.
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Ohio.
Family Members
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