They Died Together; The Vagaries of War

The SS Paul Hamilton, WWII, 1944, hit by an aerial torpedo with 580 men aboard, blows up, all hands lost. An eye witness account by an ex-Merchant Marine seaman.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Paul
• Hamilton
• WWII
• Heinkel
• Merchant
• Marine
• troop
• ship
• convoy
• torpedoed
• Coast
• Guard
• Iran
• Iraq
• Persian
• Gulf
• Suez

[332453231TAC]

Enjoying your clips. Your in good shape for 85 years old. Happy New Year 2009 Howard.

Bob - Retired radio operator U.S. Merchant Marine

[Howard128eM]

Thanks so much.

[np2opat]

Thank you for your eyewitness comentary about the sinking of the Paul Hamilton

My father was aboard that ship. I was born November of 1944. A classic war baby.

He was, SSgt Dillard Debs Harris,32nd Photographic Squadron, 5th Reconnaissance Group.

Thank you,

Pat Harris

[Howard128eM]

Thank you for writing, and I'm always glad to hear from those who were affected. My aunt lost two of her four sons, one on Normandy Beach, the other in the Pacific. My best friend from school died just two weeks before the war's end in the Philippines. So many tragedies, personal ones, from those days.

[Howard128eM]

He faced a very strong Isolationist group in Congress, which took alarm at anything that they thought might be construed as a warlike act.

[Howard128eM]

WE HAD A VERY STRONG "ISOLATIONIST" movement in the US in thos days, much like the anti-war movement today. They were strong in Congress and prevented the build-up of military strength that we needed, so yes, we were quite unprepared. Thd 3,000 miles between us and Eugope, and 5,000 miles to Japan prevented them from bombing our factories, so that we became the arsenal for the Allies. And, it was not as clear to everyone that we were going to war.

[JPPolachek]

My father was on a nearby ship and witnessed the entire incident. He almost accidentally got on the Paul Hamilton, but was saved when he unit noticed him on the wrong ramp since he was coming out of the stockade. He said all the soldiers walking up the plank looked like ghosts. It was only one of two odd/paranormal experiences he ever had. He was in the bottom of a nearby ship on the steps...but they did not know how to open the door. so they got a navy guy up to the top.

[socoloff49]

Hi Pat, I am new to utube. I wanted to share with you that my uncle (dad's brother) was cpl Meyer Selon and was aboard the SS Hamilton. He was 26 years old. In the last six months or so, I was able to locate the information about the sinking etc. I have filled out the forms to have a headstone laid at Arlington. My uncle did not have any children when he died. My best to you, Sheryl

[Wollemand]

Maybe your are right, but the lend lend lease act, had been in affect 9 months prior to pearl harbor. Its weird that Roosevelt could wage a phony-war in China, sell weapons and ships to Britain, but not increase training and supplement of the navy..

According to various sources, US had pilots i Britain already in 1940. US navy where ecorting convoy (half the way)a long time before dec 6 1941.

[Wollemand]

Admiral King was an idiot. A lot of pople died because he wouldnt learn the most common antisubmarine tactics from the British.

For two years before it was clearly known to Roosevelt that US was going to join the war.. Why was the navy so ill prepared?