Teamski Posted November 15, 2013 Author Share #26 Posted November 15, 2013 U-159 had one heck of a record: http://uboat.net/boats/u159.htm http://www.uboatarchive.net/U-159.htm http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?58098 http://books.google.com/books?id=irxXv_alHiIC&pg=PA97&lpg=PA97&dq=U-159&source=bl&ots=M3GIpEUkLc&sig=UxoJ8qsoigt8uzw9LyEboB4xihM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=pDCGUs-rK4aJjALVjIHgBQ&ved=0CDIQ6AEwAjgo#v=onepage&q=U-159&f=false Yeah it did. I have Wynn's two-volume set on U-Boat operations and it shows that U-159 was part of the Eisen group which was involved in the Laconia Affair. U-159 sank something like 4-5 ships on that patrol before sinking the LaSalle. These averaged between 5,000 to 7800 tons, so they weren't small ships. The boat went on to sink three more after that before returning home! It shows you just how these merchant vessels were fodder early in the war. Woe betide the unescorted single merchant ship. The boat was lost with a new commander in 1943. I just can't find a photo of the SS LaSalle (ex SS George Peirce, not misspelled). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted November 15, 2013 Share #27 Posted November 15, 2013 I just can't find a photo of the SS LaSalle (ex SS George Peirce, not misspelled). You'll probably need to contact the Mariner's Museum in Portsmouth, VA. They have photos of most of the merchant ships. Also, there's a place in Baltimore that has a good number...it's referenced in my copy of "A careless word..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamski Posted November 15, 2013 Author Share #28 Posted November 15, 2013 You'll probably need to contact the Mariner's Museum in Portsmouth, VA. They have photos of most of the merchant ships. Also, there's a place in Baltimore that has a good number...it's referenced in my copy of "A careless word..." Thanks for the tip. I will give that a shot. -Ski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted November 15, 2013 Share #29 Posted November 15, 2013 The place in Baltimore is the Steamship Historical Society of America. It has a photo bank at the University of Baltimore Library. And the Mariners' Museum is in Newport News, not Portsmouth (as I remembered!) Also listed in the credits in the book (and worthwhile to try) are the Peabody Museum of Salem and the National Maritime Museum of San Francisco. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robersabel Posted November 15, 2013 Share #30 Posted November 15, 2013 US MERCHANT MARINERS SERVICE OF WW II Following litigation from the outcome of P.L. 95-202, the Secretary of the Air Force was directed to declare on January 19, 1988, that the Service of the American Merchant Marine in Oceangoing Service during the period December 7, 1941, to August 15, 1945, be considered “active duty” for the purposes of all laws administered by the VA if the merchant seamen met certain criteria. Some 240,000 to 250,000 merchant seamen served at times between 07 December 1941 and 31 December 1946 and were eligible to receive benefits accorded all veterans of that timeframe, in accordance with the litigation cited above. The Merchant Marine aren't a branch of the military, so can't be awarded the Purple Heart. The Mariner's Medal was created to be awarded to Merchant Marines who were injured or killed as a result of enemy actions during a time of war. Really moving grouping as well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarbridge Posted November 15, 2013 Share #31 Posted November 15, 2013 Thanks for posting this outstanding group.Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhcoleterracina Posted November 15, 2013 Share #32 Posted November 15, 2013 Very Impressive group. My father was a merchant seaman [luckily for me late in the war] and these groups hold special meaning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted November 15, 2013 Share #33 Posted November 15, 2013 Legislation has indeed been passed to make Merchant Marine servicemen eligible for Veterans benefits. During WWII they were not. During WWII the Purple Heart was awarded to civilians sparingly. I used to own one to an RCA civilian employee who flew with the AAF to test radar gear and was shot down by the Germans. In 35 years of collecting US medals I have ONLY ever seen Mariners Medals awarded to the members of the Merchant Marine who were KIA. I have NEVER seen a Purple Heart issued to one of them during the wartime years that was engraved to a KIA. It may be different now, but we have to base what we see in medal groups on what happened during the war, not on what has been legislated since then. There are always exceptions, but until I see one physically in hand, I am not sure one exists. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamski Posted November 15, 2013 Author Share #34 Posted November 15, 2013 Looking over Wynn's book, U-159 was indeed busy. On its 3rd tour alone it sank: SS Boringia (br 5821t) SS Clan MacTanish (br 7631t) SS Coloradian (am 6557t) picking up survivors of MacTanish SS Empire Nomad (br 7167t) MV Ross (br 4978t) SS Laplace (br 7327t) SS Lasalle (am 5462t) Star of Scotland (am 2290t) SS City of Bombay (br 7140t) SS Star of Suez (eg 4999t) SS East Wales (br 4358t) That is a hell of a lot of tonnage for just one trip! This site has some of the photos and locations of some of the ships sunk by U-159: http://www.sixtant.net/2011/artigos.php?cat=u-boats-in-south-atlantic&sub=u-boats-a-z&tag=24)u-159 -Ski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KurtA Posted November 15, 2013 Share #35 Posted November 15, 2013 Queston. How does a "patch guy" keep finding amazing medal groupings???? First the Guadalcanal LOM grouping, now this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted November 15, 2013 Share #36 Posted November 15, 2013 That is a hell of a lot of tonnage for just one trip! This site has some of the photos and locations of some of the ships sunk by U-159: http://www.sixtant.net/2011/artigos.php?cat=u-boats-in-south-atlantic&sub=u-boats-a-z&tag=24)u-159 -Ski Especially when you consider that many of the U-boats I'm writing about that were sunk in 1943 and 1944 had maybe one kill to their credit...or less. Several had never fired a torpedo at an enemy target before... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamski Posted November 15, 2013 Author Share #37 Posted November 15, 2013 Queston. How does a "patch guy" keep finding amazing medal groupings???? First the Guadalcanal LOM grouping, now this! Hey, I'm a medal guy too you know! Don't forget: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/137010-my-sole-sos-find-silver-star-lom-group-to-hugh-mahoney/?hl=mahoney http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/67761-kia-ph-148th-inf-37th-inf-div/?hl=hamilton&do=findComment&comment=847814 (returned to family) http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/109785-us-navy-group-to-earle-hankey-more-information/?hl=hankey I am a medal AND patch guy! -Ski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamski Posted December 5, 2013 Author Share #38 Posted December 5, 2013 I finally got MacDonald's photograph from his wife's son. Along with the paperwork and medal, this is all he had on him. It is nice to put a face with the medal. -Ski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wharfmaster Posted December 5, 2013 Share #39 Posted December 5, 2013 Well done Ski ! Always great to have a photo. We remember. W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
67Rally Posted December 5, 2013 Share #40 Posted December 5, 2013 What a nice way to round it all out. So many of us have named items to faceless veterans. Congrats again on such a nice piece of history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamski Posted December 23, 2013 Author Share #41 Posted December 23, 2013 I just got this today. It is the life insurance voucher for Mark MacDonald. I haven't seen one before. -Ski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamski Posted December 26, 2014 Author Share #42 Posted December 26, 2014 It pays to check from time to time. Here is a photo of the La Salle as shown on shipwrecksite.eu. http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?153551 -Ski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wharfmaster Posted December 26, 2014 Share #43 Posted December 26, 2014 Nice photo Ski, thanks. W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamski Posted December 26, 2014 Author Share #44 Posted December 26, 2014 Nice photo Ski, thanks. W Thanks! I couldn't find a photo of the ship to save my life and sure enough, one pops up. -Ski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted September 23, 2016 Share #45 Posted September 23, 2016 Bumping back up...one heck of a fine group to a brave sailor! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kanemono Posted September 23, 2016 Share #46 Posted September 23, 2016 I will repeat what Dave said....one heck of a fine group to a brave sailor! Merchant Marine groups are almost impossible to find. Dick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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