Co. L 262nd Regiment Roxbury [M], Daniels, Robert L. Pfc. Courtesy of Nancy Russell. Med. Co. K 262nd Regiment Los Angeles, Mathews, Richard N. Pfc. Co. F 262nd Regiment Underwood [M], Wiedner, Joseph J. T. Sgt. Co. Co. E 264th Regiment Morea, Downing, Frank P., Jr. Pvt. Co. E 262nd Regiment Selma [M], Kerr, Ian H. Pfc. Co. Co. F 262nd Regiment Rye [M], Blaskowski, Benjamin J. S. Sgt. Few US soldiers understood the abandon ship instructions given in Flemish. Co. F 262nd Regiment Bridgeport [M], Svenningsen, Elmer Pfc. Co. Co. K 262nd Regiment NYC, Cappello, Dominick J. S. Sgt. After her cargo hold was fitted with rudimentary benches, the ship completed 24 cross-Channel crossings, transporting more than 120,000 troops. Completed in August 1929 as Belgian steam passenger ship Leopoldville. Co. K 264th Regiment Flintstone [M], Berigtold, Raymond E. Pfc. The Sunken Mysteries of Britain's Wartime Shipping Lanes: This page was last edited on 13 January 2023, at 12:43. I 262nd Regiment [M], Pettersen, Einar T. Pfc. Co. L 262nd Regiment Brooklyn, NYC [M], Ellett, Joseph S. Pfc. SS Leopoldville was an 11,500-long-ton (11,700 t) passenger liner of the Compagnie Belge Maritime du Congo. Co. E 262nd Regiment Roanoke Rapids [M], Russ, Paisley E. S. Sgt. Co. B 264th Regiment Dayton [M], Stewart, Benjamin L. Pvt. Co. H 262nd Regiment Valliant [M], Chew, Floyd E. Pfc. Co. A 264th Regiment Widener [F], Field, Henry, Jr. Pvt. Co. F 262nd Regiment Chicago [M], Griffith, George O. Pfc. Med. Co. F 262nd Regiment Chicago [M], Bradenback, Norman U. Co. A 264th Regiment [F], Moore, Edgar C. Pvt. Co. F 262nd Regiment Brooklyn, NYC [M], Cacace, Anthony F. S. Sgt. Jack Dixon was a 21-year-old seaman on board HMS Brilliant. She was built for the Compagnie Maritime Belge as the . They are among an estimated few dozen in the nation and the only Houstonians left who survived the Dec. 24, 1944, sinking of the troop transport ship, the SS Leopoldville. Co. F 262nd Regiment Clinton [M], Smrkovski, Clarence C. Pfc. The Lopoldville was one of two troopships in a formation with four warships: two British destroyers, and one British and one French frigate. Hdq. Co. F 262nd Regiment Ballouville [M], Bruschayt, Herbert W. Pfc. This In Memorium list is provided byAllan Andrade from his bookLeopoldville: A Tragedy Too Long Secret. Co. K 262nd Regiment Uhrichsville, Longwell, Robert G. Pfc. Co. E 264th Regiment New Martinsville, Smith, Bulah Pvt. Co. F 262nd Regiment Martinsville [M], Roberson, William G. Pfc. Co. E 262nd Regiment Detroit [M], MacGowan, John Pvt. Or perhaps additional information?If you wish to add a crewmember to the listing we would need most of this information: ship name, nationality, name, dob, place of birth, service (merchant marine, ), rank or job on board. I 264th Regiment NYC, Rodies, Heinz G. Pfc. Co. F 262nd Regiment [M], Decell, Harold J. Pfc. Co. K 262nd Regiment Waverly [M], Rilling, Marvin L. S. Sgt. Co. F 262nd Regiment Sumter [M], Loftis, James L. Sgt. Plotkin, a Bridgeport, Connecticut, native residing at Birch Heights' retirement facility in Derry, was surprised at Post . Co. B 264th Regiment Amarillo [F], Watson, Tommie J. Pfc. We have place for a photo as well if provided. Co. D 264th Regiment Marshfield, Peterson, Lennart W. Pfc. Co. E 262nd Regiment Santa Fe [M], Spence, Stephen C. Pfc. Co. 3rd Battalion 262nd Regiment St. Louis, Bence, George R. Pfc. Earl E. Jacobs, also a York, Pennsylvania resident. Co. D 264th Regiment Coldwater [M], Dillinger, Garvis Pfc. Sciboz has dived to the SS Leopoldville and gave the Struckmans a copy of his book, written in French, when they chartered a boat ride to visit the wreckage in the English Channel Christmas Eve, 2007. Co. L 262nd Regiment Monroe [M], Robeson, Claude C. Pfc. Co. E 262nd Regiment Madisonville [M], Welch, Virgel R. Pfc. Co. L 262nd Regiment Clearwater, Lemke, Otis C. S. Sgt. Co. L 262nd Regiment Verona Station [M], Borenstein, Jack Pvt. Co. K 262nd Regiment Manchester [F], Miller, Douglas F., Jr. Pvt. I 262nd Regiment Isola [M], Byrd, Robert S. Pfc. Co. K 262nd Regiment Mcdonald [R], Burkhart, Ralph E. Pvt. Smith (Center) with 2 unidentified buddies Anyone seeking additional information about the Leopoldville disaster or who wishes to contribute a photo of a relative to this In Memoriam page should contact Leopoldville disaster author/historian Allan Andrade via e-mail at [email protected]. Det. On Christmas Eve 1944, more than 2,000 American soldiers were aboard the troop ship SS Lopoldville crossing the English Channel to France, when it was torpedoed by a German U-boat and sank.. Co. A 264th Regiment [M], Tucker, Warren C. Pfc. Co. K 262nd Regiment Herndon [F], Ross, William C. Pvt. Co. C 264th Regiment Danbury, ONeil, Grant P. Pfc. Co. 3rd Battalion 262nd Regiment Abbott, Melson, Paul A. T. Sgt. Co. H 262nd Regiment Jersey City [M], Dantinne, Harold H. Pfc. Co. K 262nd Regiment [M], Alexander, J. D. Pfc. Co. F 262nd Regiment Buffalo [M], Foge, Francis J. Pfc. Co. H 262nd Regiment Ashford [M], Hartley, Jack R. Pfc. Det. Det. Co. B 264th Regiment [M], Mugan, Joseph P. Pvt. Brilliant attempted radio communications, but could not communicate directly with the Americans at Fort L'Ouest in Cherbourg because the Americans used a different radio frequency and could not read the British code. SS Lopoldville was a 11,509 GRT passenger liner of the Compagnie Belge Maritime du Congo. Co. B 264th Regiment York [F], Heumann, Edward H. Pfc. Pfc. Co. C 264th Regiment St. Louis [F], Suntinger, Clarence M. Pfc. I 262nd Regiment Los Angeles, Murray, Samuel L. Pvt. Co. B 264th Regiment Loveland [M], Eckerman, Arthur E. Pfc. More Tales of the Leopoldville Disaster. Co. Co. Co. D 264th Regiment Fowlers Knob, Killeen, John W. Pfc. Co. Co. E 262nd Regiment Jerome, Poupard, Wilmer C. T/4. Co. L 262nd Regiment Detroit [M], Galus, Stanley M. Pvt. I 264th Regiment Bangor [M], Stelmok, Frank Pvt. Co. E 262nd Regiment Los Angeles M], Jump, Clifford V. Pfc. Co. Co. C 264th Regiment Steelton [M], Shevera, Edward T/5. Co. F 262nd Regiment Lempster [M], Mathieu, Arthur T. Pvt. Co. E 262nd Regiment [M], Campbell, Tez V. Pvt. Co. E 262nd Regiment San Francisco [M], Olivas, Magdaleno Pfc. Co. H 262nd Regiment Dana [M], Cornwell, Clinton J. Pvt. Co. Co. Co. F 262nd Regiment Huntington Park [M], Young, Fred F., Jr. Sgt. Co. F 262nd Regiment Milwaukee [M], Mc Hugh, Dean J. Pfc. Co. 3rd Battalion 262nd Regiment Red Boiling Springs[M], Henderson, Edward L. Pfc. Co. C 264th Regiment Pryor, Crowl, Elmer R. Pfc. Co. A 264th Regiment Rock Bridge, Harmon, Edison W. Pvt. Co. Co. [4], The ship was built with two 1,019 nhp 4-cylinder quadruple-expansion steam engines which had cylinder diameters of 28.mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}2516 inch (73.5cm), 3378 inch (86cm), 48716 inch (123cm) and 6878 inch (175cm) diameter by 48716 inch (123cm) stroke. Co. F 262nd Regiment Hamden [M], Caracoglia, Concetto T/4. Co. E 262nd Regiment Lakewood [M], Bailey, William C. Pvt. Co. B 264th Regiment Philadelphia [M], Kuchta, Frank J. Pfc. Co. E 264th Regiment Shelbyville, Clark, John W. Pfc. Co. E 264th Regiment Nutley [M], Claybrook, Richard A. Sgt. Co. 3rd Battalion 262nd Regiment Columbus [F], Smith, Henry A. Cpl. Co. F 262nd Regiment Fruita, Manley, Albert L., Jr. Pfc. Co. E 264th Regiment Sharon, Jaspan, Ralph L. Pvt. She was converted for use as a troopship in the Second World War, and on December 24, 1944, while sailing between Southampton and Cherbourg, was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-486. Co. L 262nd Regiment Ooltewah [M], Cannon, Fay Pvt. Med. Soldiers on Lopoldville jumped down onto the smaller Brilliant. 2d. Co. C 264th Regiment Conneaut [M], Kieser, Marcell V. Pfc. Co. 3rd Battalion 262nd Regiment Des Moines [F], Babb, Byron E., Jr. Pfc. Co. K 262nd Regiment [R] Julian, Wright, John D. Sgt. Co. 2nd Battalion 262nd Regiment Bronx, NYC, Kessler, George Cpl. Hdq. Co. B 264th Regiment Hagerstown [M], Wambach, Harold R. Pvt. Co. F 262nd Regiment Nevada [M], Fratzke, Melvin L. Pfc. Co. A 264th Regiment Bloomington, Deamantopulos, Andrew Pfc. I 262nd Regiment Greensburg [F], Lagana, Joseph G. Pvt. The true story of the Christmas Eve torpedoing of the S.S. Leopoldville carrying 2200 American troops from Portsmouth, England to Cherbourg, France. Co. K 262nd Regiment Redford Twp, McDonnell, Ferrel F. Pfc. Brilliant contacted HMNB Portsmouth, which telephoned Cherbourg; but shore post communications, decisions, and orders were significantly slowed by minimal staffing during attendance at holiday parties. Co. L 262nd Regiment Sidon [M], Graham, Melton E. Pvt. Co. F 262nd Regiment Hammond [M], White, Vernon W. Pfc. Hdq. Co. F 262nd Regiment Johnston City [M], Goble, John W. T. Sgt. 262nd Regiment Pleasant Mount [M], Cybak, Harry, Jr. 1st. Co. I 264th Regiment Tiptonville, Gillespie, John O. Pfc. Unknown City: Unknown Publisher, 1997. . Co. F 262nd Regiment Omaha [M], Taylor, Forrest D. T. Sgt. Co. H 262nd Regiment Swayerville M], Constantine, Tony T/4. Co. D 264th Regiment Ridgewood [R], Cywinski, Charles Pfc. Co. A 264th Regiment, Heffernan, Joseph A. Pvt. S.S. Leopoldville Disaster of 12-24-1944. Co. E 262nd Regiment Long Lane [M], Moyer, Herbert C. T/4. Co. F 262nd Regiment [M], Johnson, Floyd J. T. Sgt. Leopoldville.org is an online memorial seeking to raise the awareness of the tragedy and reach the families of the disaster victims. in honor of LtGen Lawrence Snowden & LtGen George Christmas.) Lt. Co. H 262nd Regiment Nemacolin [F], Daugherty, Mervin R. Pfc. Co. L 262nd Regiment Minden, Cole, Edgle W. Pfc. Co. I 262nd Regiment Bolton [M], Smith, William F. Pfc. Co. C 264th Regiment Attleboro, Ciekalowski, William P. S. Sgt. The sinking of the SS Leopoldville in 1944 killed 763 U.S. Army soldiers on their way to the Battle of the Bulge. Co. Co. Co. H 262nd Regiment Parana [M], Dobkowski, John K. S.Sgt. 264th Regiment [F], Reece, Walter W. Pfc. In the course of that bitter cold night, the Leopoldville slowly disappeared into the 48-degree Channel waters, 763 American soldiers died, and the bodies of 493 American soldiers were never recovered. Co. L 262nd Regiment Franklin, Williams, Heiskell M. Pfc. Co. K 264th Regiment Pontiac [F], Monk, John J., Jr. T/5. Co. H 262nd Regiment Bouning [M], Quinlan, William P. Pfc. Co. F 262nd Regiment Perry [M], Simpson, Bernard W. Pvt. As a result of my ongoing research into the disaster the list has been updated and corrected. Co. Co. K 262nd Regiment Kansas City [M], Smith, C. D. S. Sgt. Co. B 264th Regiment Wellington [M], Garcia, Paul M. Pfc. Co. I 262nd Regiment Frye [M], Auclair, Joseph A. Pvt. Co. C 264th Regiment Lewiston, Lesperance, Paul E. S. Sgt. Co. F 262nd Regiment Rochester [M], Whittier, Carl F. Pfc. I 262nd Regiment Roxbury, Bouffard, Joseph C. Pfc. He had an older brother and 2 sisters. I 262nd Regiment Waterloo [M], Klein, John J. S. Sgt. Co. K 262nd Regiment New Bloomfield [R], Bathke, Oliver C. Pfc. I 264th Regiment Camp Seale [M], Springfield, James F. Pfc. Co. F 262nd Regiment Columbus, Russell, Jack 1st Sgt. Of these men, mostly between the ages of 18 and 21, 763 were killed. Co. K 262nd Regiment Youngstown, Norris, Guy D. Pvt. Med. Co. E 262nd Regiment Dorchester [M], Dockler, Paul A. Pfc. Co. 262nd Regiment Riverside [M], Carson, Marshall Pvt. Co. Co. B 264th Regiment Elsmere, Katz, Nathan Pfc. I 262nd Regiment Chicago [M], Pollitt, Joe A. T. Sgt. Co. F 262nd Regiment Brooklyn, NYC [M], Lamb, Richard B. Pfc. Co. K. 264th Regiment Springfield Gardens, NYC [F], Falci, James L. Pvt. Co. K 262nd Regiment Indianapolis [F], Williamson, Melvin E. Pfc. Co. C 264th Regiment Kokomo, Buell, Edwin D., III Pfc. Co. 3rd Battalion 262nd Regiment Los Angeles, Lebensart, Frederick Pfc. Co. C 264th Regiment [M], Acri, Peter L. Pfc. Co. H 262nd Regiment Allentown [M], Herman, Nevin H., Jr. Pvt. Survivors of the Leopoldville by Ray Roberts Archived . Now the details . The dedication reads: To the eight hundred American men who were lost with the Lopoldville, Christmas Eve 1944 near Cherbourg, France. Co. F 262nd Regiment Chicago [M], De Klyen, John C. Sgt. I 262nd Regiment Dumas [M], Dover, James W. Pfc. Co. L 262nd Regiment Brooklyn, NYC [F], Aborn, Harold L. Pvt. On December 24, 1944, Lt. Gerhard Meyer, German submarine commander of the U 486 fired a torpedo that sank the S.S. Leopoldville as it transported 2,000 American soldiers to reinforce the Battle of the Bulge. Co. C 264th Regiment Emmett, Lutz, Harry 1st Sgt. Hdq. Co. F 262nd Regiment Dubuque [M], Williams, Lavere R. Pvt. Co. F 262nd Regiment Covington [M], Farler, Otis Pfc. Lopoldville was in a diamond formation with four escorts; the destroyers HMSBrilliant and HMSAnthony, the frigate HMSHotham, and the French frigate Croix de Lorraine, and another troopship, Cheshire. Co. F 262nd Regiment Tyrone [M], Hayes, Albert T. Pfc. Co. L 262nd Regiment Indianapolis [F], Temple, Eugene R. T/5. Co. L 262nd Regiment Aneta [M], Lawrence, Benton L. Pvt. I 262nd Regiment Pawcatuck [M], Rowe, Hazlewood Pfc. Co. Co. Co. H 262nd Regiment Beckley [M], Huffman, Johnnie O. Pvt. Co. Med. Co. F 262nd Regiment Rockville Center [M], Kraemer, Bernard J. Pfc. Co. F 262nd Regiment Knoxville [M], Mixon, Robert L. Pfc. I 262nd Regiment Johnson City [R], Sweeney, Leonard B. T/5. Co. F 262nd Regiment Donora [M], Kane, Thomas J. T/5. Co. 1st Battalion 264th Regiment Los Angeles, Miller, Carl H. T. Sgt. Of the 2,235 US servicemen on board, about 515 are presumed to have gone down with the ship. Co. C 264th Regiment Chicago [F], Dalton, Delmar L. Pfc. In 1997, the 66th Infantry Division Monument was dedicated in Fort Benning, Georgia in memory of the soldiers who died aboard Lopoldville and also to those who survived the attack on Lopoldville but were later killed in action. Co. Co. F 262nd Regiment Dunkirk [M], Paci, Vincent Pvt. Co. F 262nd Regiment East Hampton [M], Cram, Ralph D., Jr. Pvt. See also Muncaster Castle list Co. L 262nd Regiment Verona [M], Sellers, Benjamin F., Jr. Pfc. Co. F 262nd Regiment Scranton [M], Sloan, Wilbur J., Jr. Sgt.