Parents: Dorothy Anne (FRAZER) and Patrick Joseph BRANIGAN
Sibling: Rose
Fiancee: Evelyn
When the U.S. entered WWII, Mr. Branigan tried to join the Navy but was rejected due to childhood infections that had left his eardrums damaged. Shortly afterwards, he was accepted at the US Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, becoming the first member of his family to attend a post-secondary school.
Mr. Branigan's father was a (Navy) veteran of WWI.
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USMM
Class of 1943, Kings Point
Service No: B 29703
Awards: Mariners Medal, Combat Bar with two stars, Atlantic War Zone Bar, Victory Medal and Presidential Testimonial Letter
Address of Record: Teaneck, New Jersey
On Nov 11, 1942, the SS James McKay was in New York being readied for a transatlantic trip to deliver almost 12.8 tons of general cargo to Belfast, Northern Ireland. The ship was armed with one 4inch, four 20mm and one .30cal guns and a 14-man Navy Armed Guard crew. On that date, PHILIP GEORGE BRANIGAN, age 20, signed on as Deck Cadet. Three other Kings Point Cadets would also sign on that day.
On the 19th, the SS James McKay sailed from New York with Convoy HX-216. A few days later a northwest gale blew up, and on the 25th visibility had been reduced to the point that the convoy began to scatter. The weather became very rough and the cargo began to shift, causing concern that the vessel's stability would be compromised. Due to this concern, the James McKay left convoy and headed for St. Johns, Newfoundland, arriving on Nov 29th. With its cargo safely stowed, the ship left Newfoundland, intending to join up with Convoy HX-217, but there is no evidence that it did.
In the early hours of Dec 8, 1942, about 425 miles south of Iceland, James McKay was hit by three torpedoes fired from German submarine U-600, one of which hit amidships. Distress signals were sent and the crew abandoned ship in two lifeboats. The ship was hit again, causing an explosion, followed by two more heavy explosions on the ship itself, and then the SS James McKay sank.
There were 48 Merchant Mariners and 14 U.S. Navy Armed Guards on board. None survived.
(bio by Patricia O'Neal)
Sibling: Rose
Fiancee: Evelyn
When the U.S. entered WWII, Mr. Branigan tried to join the Navy but was rejected due to childhood infections that had left his eardrums damaged. Shortly afterwards, he was accepted at the US Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, becoming the first member of his family to attend a post-secondary school.
Mr. Branigan's father was a (Navy) veteran of WWI.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
USMM
Class of 1943, Kings Point
Service No: B 29703
Awards: Mariners Medal, Combat Bar with two stars, Atlantic War Zone Bar, Victory Medal and Presidential Testimonial Letter
Address of Record: Teaneck, New Jersey
On Nov 11, 1942, the SS James McKay was in New York being readied for a transatlantic trip to deliver almost 12.8 tons of general cargo to Belfast, Northern Ireland. The ship was armed with one 4inch, four 20mm and one .30cal guns and a 14-man Navy Armed Guard crew. On that date, PHILIP GEORGE BRANIGAN, age 20, signed on as Deck Cadet. Three other Kings Point Cadets would also sign on that day.
On the 19th, the SS James McKay sailed from New York with Convoy HX-216. A few days later a northwest gale blew up, and on the 25th visibility had been reduced to the point that the convoy began to scatter. The weather became very rough and the cargo began to shift, causing concern that the vessel's stability would be compromised. Due to this concern, the James McKay left convoy and headed for St. Johns, Newfoundland, arriving on Nov 29th. With its cargo safely stowed, the ship left Newfoundland, intending to join up with Convoy HX-217, but there is no evidence that it did.
In the early hours of Dec 8, 1942, about 425 miles south of Iceland, James McKay was hit by three torpedoes fired from German submarine U-600, one of which hit amidships. Distress signals were sent and the crew abandoned ship in two lifeboats. The ship was hit again, causing an explosion, followed by two more heavy explosions on the ship itself, and then the SS James McKay sank.
There were 48 Merchant Mariners and 14 U.S. Navy Armed Guards on board. None survived.
(bio by Patricia O'Neal)
Parents: Dorothy Anne (FRAZER) and Patrick Joseph BRANIGAN
Sibling: Rose
Fiancee: Evelyn
When the U.S. entered WWII, Mr. Branigan tried to join the Navy but was rejected due to childhood infections that had left his eardrums damaged. Shortly afterwards, he was accepted at the US Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, becoming the first member of his family to attend a post-secondary school.
Mr. Branigan's father was a (Navy) veteran of WWI.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
USMM
Class of 1943, Kings Point
Service No: B 29703
Awards: Mariners Medal, Combat Bar with two stars, Atlantic War Zone Bar, Victory Medal and Presidential Testimonial Letter
Address of Record: Teaneck, New Jersey
On Nov 11, 1942, the SS James McKay was in New York being readied for a transatlantic trip to deliver almost 12.8 tons of general cargo to Belfast, Northern Ireland. The ship was armed with one 4inch, four 20mm and one .30cal guns and a 14-man Navy Armed Guard crew. On that date, PHILIP GEORGE BRANIGAN, age 20, signed on as Deck Cadet. Three other Kings Point Cadets would also sign on that day.
On the 19th, the SS James McKay sailed from New York with Convoy HX-216. A few days later a northwest gale blew up, and on the 25th visibility had been reduced to the point that the convoy began to scatter. The weather became very rough and the cargo began to shift, causing concern that the vessel's stability would be compromised. Due to this concern, the James McKay left convoy and headed for St. Johns, Newfoundland, arriving on Nov 29th. With its cargo safely stowed, the ship left Newfoundland, intending to join up with Convoy HX-217, but there is no evidence that it did.
In the early hours of Dec 8, 1942, about 425 miles south of Iceland, James McKay was hit by three torpedoes fired from German submarine U-600, one of which hit amidships. Distress signals were sent and the crew abandoned ship in two lifeboats. The ship was hit again, causing an explosion, followed by two more heavy explosions on the ship itself, and then the SS James McKay sank.
There were 48 Merchant Mariners and 14 U.S. Navy Armed Guards on board. None survived.
(bio by Patricia O'Neal)
Sibling: Rose
Fiancee: Evelyn
When the U.S. entered WWII, Mr. Branigan tried to join the Navy but was rejected due to childhood infections that had left his eardrums damaged. Shortly afterwards, he was accepted at the US Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, becoming the first member of his family to attend a post-secondary school.
Mr. Branigan's father was a (Navy) veteran of WWI.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
USMM
Class of 1943, Kings Point
Service No: B 29703
Awards: Mariners Medal, Combat Bar with two stars, Atlantic War Zone Bar, Victory Medal and Presidential Testimonial Letter
Address of Record: Teaneck, New Jersey
On Nov 11, 1942, the SS James McKay was in New York being readied for a transatlantic trip to deliver almost 12.8 tons of general cargo to Belfast, Northern Ireland. The ship was armed with one 4inch, four 20mm and one .30cal guns and a 14-man Navy Armed Guard crew. On that date, PHILIP GEORGE BRANIGAN, age 20, signed on as Deck Cadet. Three other Kings Point Cadets would also sign on that day.
On the 19th, the SS James McKay sailed from New York with Convoy HX-216. A few days later a northwest gale blew up, and on the 25th visibility had been reduced to the point that the convoy began to scatter. The weather became very rough and the cargo began to shift, causing concern that the vessel's stability would be compromised. Due to this concern, the James McKay left convoy and headed for St. Johns, Newfoundland, arriving on Nov 29th. With its cargo safely stowed, the ship left Newfoundland, intending to join up with Convoy HX-217, but there is no evidence that it did.
In the early hours of Dec 8, 1942, about 425 miles south of Iceland, James McKay was hit by three torpedoes fired from German submarine U-600, one of which hit amidships. Distress signals were sent and the crew abandoned ship in two lifeboats. The ship was hit again, causing an explosion, followed by two more heavy explosions on the ship itself, and then the SS James McKay sank.
There were 48 Merchant Mariners and 14 U.S. Navy Armed Guards on board. None survived.
(bio by Patricia O'Neal)
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