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World War II Honoree

Killed in World War II

Michael H. Gorchyca

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Survivors of the USS Block Island CVE 21

Branch Seal
Activity During WWII

HE SERVED ABOARD THE USS BARR DE-576 AS A FIREMAN FIRST CLASS. ON MAY 29, 1944, THE USS BLOCK ISLAND CVE-21, WAS SUNK BY A GERMAN SUBMARINE IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN. BARR PURSUED THE U-BOAT (U-549) UNTIL AROUND 2030 WHEN A TORPEDO STRUCK BARR AS WELL. HE WAS PRESUMED KILLED AS HIS BODY WAS NEVER RECOVERED. THE EXPLOSION WRECKED THE SHIP AFT OF THE NO. 2 ENGINE ROOM. THE EUGENE E. ELMORE TOOK BARR'S INJURED AND ABOUT HALF OF HER CREW ON BOARD, HOOKED UP A TOWLINE TO THE DAMAGED ESCORT AND BEGAN THE JOURNEY TO CASABLANCA, FRENCH MOROCCO.