Mark served as a Oiler on the S.S. La Salle, U.S. Merchant Marine during World War II.
He resided in Wilmington, Delaware prior to the war.
On the afternoon of Nov 7, 1942, German submarine U-159 spotted the ship and began shadowing it. During the five hour pursuit, a torpedo had been fired but missed. Now, at approximately 350 miles southeast of the Cape of Good Hope, the sub fired another torpedo and this one hit, igniting the ammunition. La Salle exploded, creating a huge fireball which completely destroyed the ship. The explosion was heard at Cape Point lighthouse, which was over 300 miles away.
There were 40 Merchant Mariners and 20 U.S. Navy Armed Guards on board. None survived.
Mark was declared "Missing In Action" in this attack during the war.
He was posthumously awarded the Mariner's Medal and the Combat Bar with a Star.
Son of William Wallace MacDonald (1889-????) and Marie Dodson MacDonald (1889-????)
Husband of Edith M. Hedrick MacDonald whom he married on June 6, 1942. She married Edward F Bachman after the death of her husband Mark.
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
He resided in Wilmington, Delaware prior to the war.
On the afternoon of Nov 7, 1942, German submarine U-159 spotted the ship and began shadowing it. During the five hour pursuit, a torpedo had been fired but missed. Now, at approximately 350 miles southeast of the Cape of Good Hope, the sub fired another torpedo and this one hit, igniting the ammunition. La Salle exploded, creating a huge fireball which completely destroyed the ship. The explosion was heard at Cape Point lighthouse, which was over 300 miles away.
There were 40 Merchant Mariners and 20 U.S. Navy Armed Guards on board. None survived.
Mark was declared "Missing In Action" in this attack during the war.
He was posthumously awarded the Mariner's Medal and the Combat Bar with a Star.
Son of William Wallace MacDonald (1889-????) and Marie Dodson MacDonald (1889-????)
Husband of Edith M. Hedrick MacDonald whom he married on June 6, 1942. She married Edward F Bachman after the death of her husband Mark.
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
Mark served as a Oiler on the S.S. La Salle, U.S. Merchant Marine during World War II.
He resided in Wilmington, Delaware prior to the war.
On the afternoon of Nov 7, 1942, German submarine U-159 spotted the ship and began shadowing it. During the five hour pursuit, a torpedo had been fired but missed. Now, at approximately 350 miles southeast of the Cape of Good Hope, the sub fired another torpedo and this one hit, igniting the ammunition. La Salle exploded, creating a huge fireball which completely destroyed the ship. The explosion was heard at Cape Point lighthouse, which was over 300 miles away.
There were 40 Merchant Mariners and 20 U.S. Navy Armed Guards on board. None survived.
Mark was declared "Missing In Action" in this attack during the war.
He was posthumously awarded the Mariner's Medal and the Combat Bar with a Star.
Son of William Wallace MacDonald (1889-????) and Marie Dodson MacDonald (1889-????)
Husband of Edith M. Hedrick MacDonald whom he married on June 6, 1942. She married Edward F Bachman after the death of her husband Mark.
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
He resided in Wilmington, Delaware prior to the war.
On the afternoon of Nov 7, 1942, German submarine U-159 spotted the ship and began shadowing it. During the five hour pursuit, a torpedo had been fired but missed. Now, at approximately 350 miles southeast of the Cape of Good Hope, the sub fired another torpedo and this one hit, igniting the ammunition. La Salle exploded, creating a huge fireball which completely destroyed the ship. The explosion was heard at Cape Point lighthouse, which was over 300 miles away.
There were 40 Merchant Mariners and 20 U.S. Navy Armed Guards on board. None survived.
Mark was declared "Missing In Action" in this attack during the war.
He was posthumously awarded the Mariner's Medal and the Combat Bar with a Star.
Son of William Wallace MacDonald (1889-????) and Marie Dodson MacDonald (1889-????)
Husband of Edith M. Hedrick MacDonald whom he married on June 6, 1942. She married Edward F Bachman after the death of her husband Mark.
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
Gravesite Details
Sources - uboat.net, usmm.org, wrecksite.eu and from ancestry.com: US Rosters of WWII Dead; 1920, 1930, 1940 Census (DE); 1 public Family Tree
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