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World War II Honoree

Killed in World War II

Alan Merritt Thorpe Eckman

Branch of Service

U.S. Merchant Marine

Hometown

Abington Township, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Historical Society of Montgomery County

Branch Seal
Activity During WWII

MEMBER OF THE U.S. MERCHANT MARINES, AT AGE 33 WAS THE CHIEF MATE FOR THE SS JOHN D. GILL AN OIL TANKER ON ITS 2ND VOYAGE TRAVELING FROM ATRECO, TEXAS TO PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. ON THE NIGHT OF MARCH 12, 1942 THE SHIP WAS STRUCK BY A TORPEDO FIRED FROM GERMAN U-BOAT 158. A FIRE DEVELOPED AND THE SHIP SUNK THE FOLLOWING MORNING. KILLED AS WERE 22 MEMBERS OF A CREW OF 49.