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She was built by the Germans in 1931 and twelve years later she was sunk by the Germans. The USS Plymouth PG-57 began life as the yacht Alva, built at Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft, Kiel, Germany for William K. Vanderbilt II. He used the ship on expeditions to the South Pacific, Mediterranean and South America from 1931 to 1935. On Nov. 4, 1941 he gave the ship to the U.S. Navy, they converted her into a patrol gunboat and used her for convoy escort duty along the U.S. east coast and to Cuba. On her last voyage she left New York to escort a convoy to Key West when on Aug. 5, 1943 the U-566 slammed a torpedo into her. The ship took on a heavy list and sank in two minuets. Her commander, Lt. Ormsby M. Mitchel Jr., USNR was terribly wounded when he was thrown into a bulkhead after the explosion, but continued to oversee the abandonment of the ship. He survived, but lost a leg from his injuries. For his devotion to duty he was awarded the Navy Cross. Because of the swiftness of the sinking ninty-one crewmen were killed, four died of wounds the following day. Only eighty-five survivors were picked up and landed at Norfolk. The following is a poem about the ship was published in Sept. 1943. |
The Once Over By H. L. Phillips Once gleaming beauty of the peaceful seas, And now a shattered thing with ghastly wounds, To cruise a tranquil world In style deluxe, For this was she turned out a few years back, Bold sorties out where dark assassin lay, The Alva, I remember her so well, Now muck thru every stateroom leaves its mark, |
© 2008 Michael W. Pocock MaritimeQuest.com |
Roll of Honor |
In memory of those who lost their lives in USS Plymouth PG-57 "Least we not forget these heroes who fought and died for our freedom" |
Name |
Rank / Rate |
Notes |
|
Allen, Aaron |
Steward's Mate 1st Class |
||
Barby, Frank W. |
Baker 1st Class (USNR) |
||
Barrs, James F. |
Signalman 3rd Class |
||
Bell, Howard O. |
Machinist's Mate 2nd Class (USNR) |
||
Boles, Clarence D. |
Watertender 1st Class |
||
Bolick, Alonzo W. |
Coxswain |
||
Booker, Herbert G. |
Carpenter's Mate 1st Class (USNR) |
||
Broyhill, James L. |
Seaman 1st Class (USNR) |
||
Bryan, Albert L. |
Seaman 2nd Class (USNR) |
Died of wounds Aug. 6 |
|
Byars, Elvin |
Seaman 1st Class (USNR) |
||
Campbell, Curtis A. |
Soundman 2nd Class |
||
Carroll, Fenton P. |
Seaman 2nd Class (USNR) |
||
Carter, Joe R. |
Lieutenant (j.g.) (USNR) |
||
Cast, William J. |
Seaman 2nd Class (USNR) |
||
Chester, Robert E. |
Seaman 2nd Class |
Died of wounds Aug. 6 |
|
Corbett, Houston C. |
Gunner's Mate 1st Class (USNR) |
||
Crates, Eugene |
Ship Fitter 1st Class (USNR) |
||
Crudele, Augustus J. |
Seaman 2nd Class (USNR) |
||
Currier, David F. |
Lieutenant (USNR) |
||
Dumm, Paul A. |
Radarman 1st Class |
||
Eager, Jr., Frank H. |
Seaman 1st Class |
||
Echols, Floyd A. |
Electrician's Mate 2nd Class (USNR) |
||
Edwards, George N. |
Quartermaster 3rd Class (USNR) |
||
Fedrau, Harold W. |
Fireman 1st Class |
||
Fisher, Robert G. |
Coxswain (USNR) |
Died of wounds Aug. 6 |
|
Flugel, Robert L. |
Seaman 2nd Class |
||
Francoeur, Robert A. |
Seaman 2nd Class (USNR) |
||
Gamble, Robert J. |
Seaman 1st Class |
||
Giguere, Russell H. |
Chief Pharmacist's Mate |
||
Gillum, Joe |
Ship's Cook 3rd Class |
||
Heaton, Claude L. |
Chief Motor Machinist's Mate |
||
Heinemann, Chester J. |
Radioman 1st Class |
||
Hodnett, R. J. |
Coxswain |
||
Holloway, Clinton G. |
Steward's Mate 2nd Class |
||
Howard, Daniel |
Steward's Mate 2nd Class (USNR) |
||
Jakobczak, Walter J. |
Chief Motor Machinist's Mate |
||
Johnson, Charles C. |
Yeoman 2nd Class (USNR) |
||
Johnson, Earl P. |
Fireman 2nd Class |
||
Johnson, Jr., Walter M. |
Baker 3rd Class |
||
Jolliff, Albert C. |
Seaman 1st Class (USNR) |
||
Jones, Douglas E. |
Seaman 1st Class (USNR) |
||
Jones, Robert D. |
Seaman 1st Class (USNR) |
||
Jones, Verba D. |
Electrician's Mate 3rd Class (USNR) |
||
Kaminsky, John L. |
Radarman 3rd Class (USNR) |
||
Kawula, Frank J. |
Coxswain |
||
Keener, Harold R. |
Seaman 1st Class (USNR) |
||
Keller, Jr., Carl C. |
Seaman 1st Class |
||
* |
Keltch, Rubin |
Ensign (USNR) |
|
Knapp, George M. |
Seaman 2nd Class (USNR) |
||
Kroening, Lewis A. |
Radarman 3rd Class |
||
Lebeck, Louis W. |
Motor Machinist's Mate 2c |
Died of wounds Aug. 6 |
|
Lent, Morrison H. |
Seaman 1st Class (USNR) |
||
Lindsay, Paul |
Steward's Mate 1st Class |
||
Long, Murl |
Carpenter's Mate 3rd Class |
||
Maier, Franklyn |
Seaman 2nd Class (USNR) |
||
March, Bernard F. |
Chief Storekeeper |
||
Massey, Cecil E. |
Ship Fitter 2nd Class |
||
McCord, Willie B. |
Steward's Mate 2nd Class (USNR) |
||
McCutcheon, William L. |
Motor Machinist's Mate 1st Class |
||
* |
McGinty, Franklin A. |
Soundman 3rd Class (USNR) |
|
Meehan, Clarence P. J. |
Chief Gunner's Mate |
||
Monson, Norman G. |
Chief Commissary Steward |
||
Moore, Otis |
Electrician's Mate 1st Class (USNR) |
||
Moses, Benjamin F. |
Chief Electrician's Mate (USNR) |
||
Mueller, John H. |
Fireman 1st Class (USNR) |
||
Murphy, William J. |
Gunner's Mate 3rd Class (USNR) |
||
Nagorniak, John P. |
Ship's Cook 3rd Class (USNR) |
||
Niblick, John J. |
Fireman 3rd Class (USNR) |
||
Nikolai, Otto |
Boatswain's Mate 1st Class |
||
Nuzzo, Vincent J. |
Seaman 1st Class |
||
Peterburs, Paul F. |
Motor Machinist's Mate 1st Class |
||
Pierce, Wilbur J. |
Seaman 2nd Class |
||
Potter, Reginald L. |
Fireman 1st Class (USNR) |
||
Ray, Carroll L. |
Seaman 1st Class (USNR) |
||
Richardson, William A. |
Boatswain's Mate 1st Class |
||
Sawtelle, Jr., Alvin C. |
Lieutenant (USNR) |
||
Schliebe, Lester A. |
Electrician's Mate 3rd Class (USNR) |
||
Sheneybarger, Bert C. |
Seaman 2nd Class (USNR) |
||
Sirmons, Robert W. |
Seaman 1st Class |
||
Smith, Richard M. |
Seaman 1st Class (USNR) |
||
Spiewak, John S. |
Soundman 3rd Class (USNR) |
||
Stagniunas, Anthony L. |
Electrician's Mate 2nd Class |
||
Teague, Foster M. |
Baker 2nd Class (USNR) |
||
True, Raymond V. |
Fireman 1st Class (USNR) |
||
Volluse, Raymond J. |
Fireman 2nd Class (USNR) |
||
Wachter, Charles W. |
Gunner's Mate 3rd Class (USNR) |
||
Wheeler, Jr., Joseph E. |
Seaman 2nd Class (USNR) |
||
Whitehead, Clayton L. |
Seaman 2nd Class (USNR) |
||
Wilkinson, David K. |
Seaman 2nd Class (USNR) |
||
Williams, Robert |
Steward's Mate 1st Class |
||
Wiser, William C. |
Seaman 1st Class |
||
Wismer, John |
Seaman 1st Class |
||
Witham, Wilfred R. |
Seaman 1st Class (USNR) |
||
Wood, Frank L. |
Motor Machinist's Mate 2nd Class (USNR) |
||
Zyla, Michael N. |
Seaman 1st Class (USNR) |
||
* |
Awarded Navy Cross |
||
This list contains the names of ninety-five known casualties. |
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