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FOR HEROISM ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY
MS ESSO BOLIVAR
Company: Panama Transport Co.(Standard Oil of New Jersey)
Master: James M. Stewart (Lost)
Built: Kiel Gaarde, Germany 1937
Gross Tons: 10,389
Cargo Capacity: 128,894 barrels
Dimensions: 506' x 70' x 37'
The Panamanian flag tanker, MS ESSO BOLIVAR, was shelled an torpedoed by the German U-126 (Ernst Bauer) at 0230
on March 7, 1942 in position 19-38 N./74-38 W. or about 30 miles SE of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, while en route from New
York to Aruba with a load of fresh water, commissary stores, and a deck cargo. The ship did not sink but was badly damag-ed.
Eventually repaired and put back into service.
On board was a merchant crew of 44 and a U.S. Naval Armed Guard contingent of six. Seven crew members, including the
Master and Chief Mate were lost. One Navy gunner was lost. Ten crew members were wounded as were four of the Navy men. The ESSO BOLIVAR left New York on February 26th armed with a stern gun and two .30 caliber machine guns. A stop was made at Newport News for routing instructions from the Navy and to test the degaussing system. She departed there on March 1st, unescorted for Aruba.
At 0230 the ship was attacked by vicious shelling from U-126. Seven crew members were killed and many wounded. About two hours after the initial attack, a torpedo struck on the starboard side blowing part of the deck cargo several hundred feet in the air. She took a heavy list to port but stayed afloat.
Shells struck the after house, wheelhouse, and the midship house. The 3rd shell exploded in the afterhouse starting a fire in the galley which soon spread and blazed upward like a flaming torch driving the gun crew from the after gun. Bulkheads
caved in from the intense heat.
The engines were stopped at 0310 with the steering gear shot away. The deck cargo of acetylene cylinders were shattered by shellfire setting the gas on fire. The torpedo made a hole 50' x 35' next to the pumproom.
The ship was abandoned in #1 lifeboat and four of the rafts.The lifeboat picked up survivors in the water. All survivors were picked up by the minesweeper USS ENDURANCE and taken to Guantanamo Naval Base where all the wounded were hos-pitalized.
On March 25th, the ship left Guantanamo under her own power with a Naval escort, arriving Mobile on March 30th where permanent repairs were completed on July 24th. On August 6th, she loaded a full cargo at Corpus Christi, Texas for New York.
U.S. MERCHANT SEAMEN LOST:
DALEY, John Messman
FUDSKE, Hawkins Chief Mate
SCARDORA, Henry H. Messman
STEWART, James M. Master
VAUGHT, Basil E. O.S.
WILSON, Irving C. Oiler
ZAWISTOWSKY, Boleslau 2nd Cook
U.S. NAVAL ARMED GUARD LOST:
CREPS, Lawrence R. AS
The U-126 (Siegfried Kietz) was sunk by RAF Squadron 172 in the North Atlantic (46-10 N./11-23 W.) on July 3, 1943. There were no survivors.
The Chief Mate, Hawkings Fudske, Chief Engineer William McTaggart, Arthur Lauman, Fireman, and Charles Richardson, A.B. were all awarded the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal for their bravery in the attack on this ship. Mr. Fudske's award was made posthumously to his wife. A Liberty ship was also named for him.
( See below )
Merchant Marine Recipients of Distinguished Service Medal awarded for "Heroism Beyond the Call of Duty".
 *Asterisk indicates Distinguished Service Medal awarded posthumously.
The President of the United States takes Pleasure in Presenting the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal to Hawkins Fudske * Chief Mate on SS Esso Bolivar (Panama) 3/7/42
For heroism above and beyond the call of duty.
Finding himself as First Mate, in command when the Master of the ship was killed while the vessel was under heavy shell and torpedo fire from an enemy submarine, he took charge of the only remaining lifeboat. As the boat was being lowered shells continued to burst on the side of the ship overhead. A large shell fragment badly mangled one of his arms, but he ne-vertheless urged his men to keep lowering, and himself actually helped in this operation despite the severity of his wounds. As the boat reached the water, he was struck again in another burst of shell fire and this time mortally wounded. Realizing, in his dying condition, that the safety of the men depended on getting their boat away from the side of the ship, his last words were: "Never mind me, fellows. Try and get the boat away".
His extraordinary courage and disregard of personal danger in the protection of the lives of his shipmates will be an enduring inspiration to seamen of the United States Merchant Marine everywhere.
For the President
Admiral Emory Scott Land
Hawkins Fudske was from Brooklyn, NY
The President of the United States takes Pleasure in Presenting the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal to Arthur Lauman Fireman on MS Esso Bolivar (Panama) 3/7/42
For extraordinary heroism and especially meritorious service under unusual hazards.
While his ship was under heavy shell fire and torpedo attack by an enemy submarine which caused fires above and below deck, he remained at his port in the fireroom despite the shattering of the room and its equipment by explosions.
As one shell crashed through the smokestack casing, breaking off a ten-foot section of six-inch copper pipe and other smal-ler piping, pieces of steel hurtled into the lower fireroom. As another shell came through the fireroom casing and tore into the uptake, the room was sprayed with pieces of metal. When ordered at last by the Chief Engineer to report to his boat station, he was found calmly clearing the floor of debris in order to continue operations. With all exits afire, it was necessary for him to climb through the engine room skylights to get out on deck. Later, while in the water waiting to be picked up by a lifeboat, he helped another seaman to fight off sharks attacking a wounded member of the gun crew.
His extraordinary courage and fidelity to trust will be an enduring inspiration to seamen of the United States Merchant Marine everywhere.
For the President
Admiral Emory Scott Land
Lauman was from New York, NY
The President of the United States takes Pleasure in Presenting the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal to Thomas J. McTaggart Chief Engineer on MS Esso Bolivar (Panama) 3/7/42
For heroism and especially meritorious service under unusual hazards.
His ship, trailed in darkness by a submarine, was raked by shellfire for more than two hours, then struck by a torpedo.
Remaining below in the burning ship with the Second Engineer after the abandon ships order had been given, he made sure the engines were left in condition for future operation in case salvage should prove possible. Climbing into the last lifeboat with the Second Engineer, he took charge when the chief Mate was mortally wounded by shellfire. He maneuvered the life-boat to minimize the effect of enemy fire until the firing ceased, and when daylight came directed the rescue of several men from the water. After landing the boat he returned to the ships with help and directed salvage operations which made it pos-sible to sail her to a nearby port for temporary repairs as the result of which this vessel is still serving the cause of the United Nations in the war.
His extraordinary courage and disregard of danger to life or limb in the protection of his vessel constitute a fidelity to trust which will be an enduring inspiration to seamen of the United States Merchant Marine everywhere.
For the President
Admiral Emory Scott Land
McTaggert was from Medford, MA
The President of the United States takes Pleasure in Presenting the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal to Charles D. Richardson Able Seaman on SS Esso Bolivar (Panama) 3/7/42
For heroism above and beyond the call of duty.
On duty with the Navy gun crew while his ship was under heavy enemy submarine shell fire, he undertook the rescue of two severely wounded Navy members of the crew when the abandon ship order was given. Although himself wounded in the back by a shell fragment, he got both men into the water, placed one on his back and had the other grasp him around the neck. In this manner he was swimming toward a lifeboat when sharks attacked and he was obliged to defend himself and his companions by slashing out with a knife. A shark pulled the wounded man off his back and this man was lost, but he suc-ceeded in getting the second wounded man and himself into the lifeboat. He suffered hand lacerations while fighting off the sharks.
His extraordinary courage and disregard of his own safety in his efforts to rescue his shipmates will be an enduring inspira-tion to seamen of the United States Merchant Marine everywhere.
For the President
Admiral Emory Scott Land
Charles D. Richardson Richardson was from Byron, TX
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