SISTER: Marcella K. Cordua (Grazzini)
James S. Cordua graduated in 1940 from St. John's College HS in Washington, DC. Part of the Merchant Marine Academy Class of 1944, he signed on aboard the Liberty Ship SS William C. Gorgas as Deck Cadet in Mobile, AL on January 27, 1943.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
USMM, Deck Cadet
Class of 1944
Service No: Z 276200
Significant Awards: Mariners Medal, Combat Bar, Atlantic War Zone Bar, Victory Medal, and the Presidential Testimonial Letter
- Address of Record: Washington, DC
The SS William C. Gorgas was a steam-powered Liberty Ship, built under the auspices of the War Shipping Administration and delivered to Waterman Steamship Co in Mobile, Alabama in January 1943.
On January 27th, James Sinclair Cordua signed on the new ship as Deck Cadet. On February 28, the ship, with Mr. Cardua on board, left New York in the company of 60 other ships that made up Convoy HX-228. Bound for Liverpool, the ship's cargo consisted of 8000 tons of general cargo which included metals, cotton, TNT, foodstuffs, aircraft, a landing craft and two PT boats. The ship's complement of 73 men included 43 Mariners and 27 U.S. Navy Armed Guards. The ship was armed with one 4", one 3", and eight 20mm guns.
On March 10th, the convoy was in the middle of the North Atlantic. Late that night, as the moon shown brightly on an ocean roiled by heavy swells, a light snow began to fall. During the final hours of Mar 10th and the first of the 11th, the convoy was attacked by several German submarines (U-boats). The Gorgas was struck amidships by a torpedo from U-757, leaving a 15 foot hole at the engine room, flooding it, and killing the three men on watch. The lifeboats were immediately lowered into the rough sea and the survivors abandoned ship. The U-boat surfaced and located the ship behind the convoy. Upon questioning the men in one of the lifeboats, they misunderstood the ship's name and thought it was 'William P. Palmer.' A final torpedo was fired, causing the Gorgas to sink by the bow, taking with it the landing craft that had been stowed on deck. After about a minute, the explosives (TNT) detonated underwater, causing the U-boat to be flung upward and shaken, injuring several Germans and damaging both batteries and a diesel, thus rendering the U-boat unable to dive.
Five hours later, 51 survivors were picked up by HMS Harvester, a British destroyer. Harvester had damaged one of its two propeller shafts when it rammed a U-boat during the attack. Not long after the rescue, the second shaft broke leaving the destroyer helpless. That afternoon, Harvester was hit by two torpedoes from U-432 and it quickly sank.
Of the 51 survivors of the Gorgas sinking, only 12 (eight Merchant Mariners and four Armed Guards) survived the sinking of HMS Harvester. They were rescued by FFL Aconit (a Free French Corvette) along with 48 survivors of HMS Harvester and 24 German sailors from the two U-boats.
It is believed that James Sinclair Cordua survived the sinking of the Wm. C. Gorgas, but was lost when HMS Harvester was sunk.
James S. Cordua graduated in 1940 from St. John's College HS in Washington, DC. Part of the Merchant Marine Academy Class of 1944, he signed on aboard the Liberty Ship SS William C. Gorgas as Deck Cadet in Mobile, AL on January 27, 1943.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
USMM, Deck Cadet
Class of 1944
Service No: Z 276200
Significant Awards: Mariners Medal, Combat Bar, Atlantic War Zone Bar, Victory Medal, and the Presidential Testimonial Letter
- Address of Record: Washington, DC
The SS William C. Gorgas was a steam-powered Liberty Ship, built under the auspices of the War Shipping Administration and delivered to Waterman Steamship Co in Mobile, Alabama in January 1943.
On January 27th, James Sinclair Cordua signed on the new ship as Deck Cadet. On February 28, the ship, with Mr. Cardua on board, left New York in the company of 60 other ships that made up Convoy HX-228. Bound for Liverpool, the ship's cargo consisted of 8000 tons of general cargo which included metals, cotton, TNT, foodstuffs, aircraft, a landing craft and two PT boats. The ship's complement of 73 men included 43 Mariners and 27 U.S. Navy Armed Guards. The ship was armed with one 4", one 3", and eight 20mm guns.
On March 10th, the convoy was in the middle of the North Atlantic. Late that night, as the moon shown brightly on an ocean roiled by heavy swells, a light snow began to fall. During the final hours of Mar 10th and the first of the 11th, the convoy was attacked by several German submarines (U-boats). The Gorgas was struck amidships by a torpedo from U-757, leaving a 15 foot hole at the engine room, flooding it, and killing the three men on watch. The lifeboats were immediately lowered into the rough sea and the survivors abandoned ship. The U-boat surfaced and located the ship behind the convoy. Upon questioning the men in one of the lifeboats, they misunderstood the ship's name and thought it was 'William P. Palmer.' A final torpedo was fired, causing the Gorgas to sink by the bow, taking with it the landing craft that had been stowed on deck. After about a minute, the explosives (TNT) detonated underwater, causing the U-boat to be flung upward and shaken, injuring several Germans and damaging both batteries and a diesel, thus rendering the U-boat unable to dive.
Five hours later, 51 survivors were picked up by HMS Harvester, a British destroyer. Harvester had damaged one of its two propeller shafts when it rammed a U-boat during the attack. Not long after the rescue, the second shaft broke leaving the destroyer helpless. That afternoon, Harvester was hit by two torpedoes from U-432 and it quickly sank.
Of the 51 survivors of the Gorgas sinking, only 12 (eight Merchant Mariners and four Armed Guards) survived the sinking of HMS Harvester. They were rescued by FFL Aconit (a Free French Corvette) along with 48 survivors of HMS Harvester and 24 German sailors from the two U-boats.
It is believed that James Sinclair Cordua survived the sinking of the Wm. C. Gorgas, but was lost when HMS Harvester was sunk.
SISTER: Marcella K. Cordua (Grazzini)
James S. Cordua graduated in 1940 from St. John's College HS in Washington, DC. Part of the Merchant Marine Academy Class of 1944, he signed on aboard the Liberty Ship SS William C. Gorgas as Deck Cadet in Mobile, AL on January 27, 1943.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
USMM, Deck Cadet
Class of 1944
Service No: Z 276200
Significant Awards: Mariners Medal, Combat Bar, Atlantic War Zone Bar, Victory Medal, and the Presidential Testimonial Letter
- Address of Record: Washington, DC
The SS William C. Gorgas was a steam-powered Liberty Ship, built under the auspices of the War Shipping Administration and delivered to Waterman Steamship Co in Mobile, Alabama in January 1943.
On January 27th, James Sinclair Cordua signed on the new ship as Deck Cadet. On February 28, the ship, with Mr. Cardua on board, left New York in the company of 60 other ships that made up Convoy HX-228. Bound for Liverpool, the ship's cargo consisted of 8000 tons of general cargo which included metals, cotton, TNT, foodstuffs, aircraft, a landing craft and two PT boats. The ship's complement of 73 men included 43 Mariners and 27 U.S. Navy Armed Guards. The ship was armed with one 4", one 3", and eight 20mm guns.
On March 10th, the convoy was in the middle of the North Atlantic. Late that night, as the moon shown brightly on an ocean roiled by heavy swells, a light snow began to fall. During the final hours of Mar 10th and the first of the 11th, the convoy was attacked by several German submarines (U-boats). The Gorgas was struck amidships by a torpedo from U-757, leaving a 15 foot hole at the engine room, flooding it, and killing the three men on watch. The lifeboats were immediately lowered into the rough sea and the survivors abandoned ship. The U-boat surfaced and located the ship behind the convoy. Upon questioning the men in one of the lifeboats, they misunderstood the ship's name and thought it was 'William P. Palmer.' A final torpedo was fired, causing the Gorgas to sink by the bow, taking with it the landing craft that had been stowed on deck. After about a minute, the explosives (TNT) detonated underwater, causing the U-boat to be flung upward and shaken, injuring several Germans and damaging both batteries and a diesel, thus rendering the U-boat unable to dive.
Five hours later, 51 survivors were picked up by HMS Harvester, a British destroyer. Harvester had damaged one of its two propeller shafts when it rammed a U-boat during the attack. Not long after the rescue, the second shaft broke leaving the destroyer helpless. That afternoon, Harvester was hit by two torpedoes from U-432 and it quickly sank.
Of the 51 survivors of the Gorgas sinking, only 12 (eight Merchant Mariners and four Armed Guards) survived the sinking of HMS Harvester. They were rescued by FFL Aconit (a Free French Corvette) along with 48 survivors of HMS Harvester and 24 German sailors from the two U-boats.
It is believed that James Sinclair Cordua survived the sinking of the Wm. C. Gorgas, but was lost when HMS Harvester was sunk.
James S. Cordua graduated in 1940 from St. John's College HS in Washington, DC. Part of the Merchant Marine Academy Class of 1944, he signed on aboard the Liberty Ship SS William C. Gorgas as Deck Cadet in Mobile, AL on January 27, 1943.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
USMM, Deck Cadet
Class of 1944
Service No: Z 276200
Significant Awards: Mariners Medal, Combat Bar, Atlantic War Zone Bar, Victory Medal, and the Presidential Testimonial Letter
- Address of Record: Washington, DC
The SS William C. Gorgas was a steam-powered Liberty Ship, built under the auspices of the War Shipping Administration and delivered to Waterman Steamship Co in Mobile, Alabama in January 1943.
On January 27th, James Sinclair Cordua signed on the new ship as Deck Cadet. On February 28, the ship, with Mr. Cardua on board, left New York in the company of 60 other ships that made up Convoy HX-228. Bound for Liverpool, the ship's cargo consisted of 8000 tons of general cargo which included metals, cotton, TNT, foodstuffs, aircraft, a landing craft and two PT boats. The ship's complement of 73 men included 43 Mariners and 27 U.S. Navy Armed Guards. The ship was armed with one 4", one 3", and eight 20mm guns.
On March 10th, the convoy was in the middle of the North Atlantic. Late that night, as the moon shown brightly on an ocean roiled by heavy swells, a light snow began to fall. During the final hours of Mar 10th and the first of the 11th, the convoy was attacked by several German submarines (U-boats). The Gorgas was struck amidships by a torpedo from U-757, leaving a 15 foot hole at the engine room, flooding it, and killing the three men on watch. The lifeboats were immediately lowered into the rough sea and the survivors abandoned ship. The U-boat surfaced and located the ship behind the convoy. Upon questioning the men in one of the lifeboats, they misunderstood the ship's name and thought it was 'William P. Palmer.' A final torpedo was fired, causing the Gorgas to sink by the bow, taking with it the landing craft that had been stowed on deck. After about a minute, the explosives (TNT) detonated underwater, causing the U-boat to be flung upward and shaken, injuring several Germans and damaging both batteries and a diesel, thus rendering the U-boat unable to dive.
Five hours later, 51 survivors were picked up by HMS Harvester, a British destroyer. Harvester had damaged one of its two propeller shafts when it rammed a U-boat during the attack. Not long after the rescue, the second shaft broke leaving the destroyer helpless. That afternoon, Harvester was hit by two torpedoes from U-432 and it quickly sank.
Of the 51 survivors of the Gorgas sinking, only 12 (eight Merchant Mariners and four Armed Guards) survived the sinking of HMS Harvester. They were rescued by FFL Aconit (a Free French Corvette) along with 48 survivors of HMS Harvester and 24 German sailors from the two U-boats.
It is believed that James Sinclair Cordua survived the sinking of the Wm. C. Gorgas, but was lost when HMS Harvester was sunk.
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