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For Actions on July 25, 1956
Gallant Ship Award citation:
Responding unhesitatingly to an SOS from the sinking ANDREA DORIA off Nantucket Island in the North Atlantic on the night of July 25, 1956, the PRIVATE WILLIAM H. THOMAS raced to the scene of the disaster, arriving there within two hours of receiving the first SOS. Holding a position close to the sinking vessel, PRIVATE WILLIAM H. THOMAS launched two lifeboats, which in a series of trips brought back to...
This listing includes some prominent figures who have played major roles in shaping the United States the maritime industry and African-American History:
For actions on December 5, 1944
Gallant Ship Award Citation:
In October 1944, the SS MARCUS DALY was one of the first United States merchant ships to dock at Tacloban, Island of Leyte, during the initial invasion of the Philippines. For six days and nights her guns, manned by a skillful and courageous crew, defeated vigorous attacks by enemy planes in a series of heroic actions. In December 1944, she again engaged enemy bombers and suicide planes and emerged...
William Tillman faced a brutal choice: slavery or death.He was steward and cook onboard the merchant schooner S.J. Waring, about 300 tons, bound for Montevideo, Uruguay with an assorted cargo. Three days out from port, July 7, 1861, and one hundred fifty miles out from Sandy Hook, New Jersey, at lat. 38, long. 69.Tillman’s vessel was boarded by men from the rebel privateer Jeff Davis. They declared the schooner property of the...
For actions on July 19, 1943
Gallant Ship Award Citation:
For six months, beginning in February 1943, SS SAMUEL PARKER was in continuous service in the Mediterranean transporting troops and material which contributed immeasurably to the successes of the North African campaign and the invasion of Sicily. Throughout this period she was subjected to numerous enemy attacks and, though badly battered, in every case she emerged victorious.
The stark...
For actions on September 12, 1942
Gallant Ship Award Citation:
Emerging victoriously from an extremely battered convoy, numbering many sunken ships, SS WILLIAM MOULTRIE arrived at the scheduled north Russian Port and discharged her vitally needed cargo. Expert maneuvering and coordinated gun control during the highly concentrated submarine and bombing attacks over a period of one week prevented crew casualties and brought the series of actions to a successful...
For actions on July 25, 1956
Gallant Ship Award citation:
Responding unhesitatingly to an SOS from the sinking ANDREA DORIA off Nantucket Island in the North Atlantic on the night of July 25, 1956, the CAPE ANN raced fifteen miles through dangerously thick fog to the side of the stricken ship. Holding a position close to the sinking ship, the CAPE ANN launched her two lifeboats, which in a series of trips brought back to the ship a total of one hundred and...
For actions on October 24 – 29 1944
Gallant Ship Award Citation:
In October 1944, the SS ADONIRAM JUDSON, first United States merchant ship to dock at Tacloban, Island of Leyte, during the initial invasion of the Philippines, provided the principal air cover for the landing area for two days until joined by other ships of the expedition. Her guns, manned by a skillful and courageous crew, defeated vigorous and continuous attacks by enemy planes in a series of...
For actions on September 27, 1942
Gallant Ship Award Citation:
Two enemy raiders suddenly appeared out of the morning mist to attack her. Heavy guns of one raider pounded her hull, and machine gun fire from the other sprayed her decks at close quarters. The lightly armored merchantman exchanged shot for shot with the enemy raiders, sinking one and setting the other afire before she, with boilers blown up, engines destroyed, and ablaze from stem to stern, went...
For actions on September 9 – 21, 1942.
Gallant Ship Award Citation:
For seventeen days SS VIRGINIA DARE, loaded with high explosives, was en route to and in a north Russian port where her vital cargo was discharged, throughout this period she repelled countless enemy bomb and torpedo attacks by accurate fire from her guns and by skillful maneuvering. On a subsequent voyage she was torpedoed in the Mediterranean but, through smart seamanship, was beached and...