World War II Honoree

Eugene Quidort

Branch of Service

U.S. Merchant Marine

Hometown

Cleveland, Ohio

Honored By

An Indebted American

SERVED AS A CADET-MIDSHIPMAN AND TRAVELED ABOARD VESSELS THAT DELIVERED TONS OF SUPPLIES AND MILLIONS OF TROOPS TO COMBAT ZONES AROUND THE WORLD. ON JUNE 10, 1943, HE WAS ABOARD THE ESSO GETTYSBURG, A TANKER THAT WAS HAULING 120,000 BARRELS OF CRUDE OIL STRAIGHT INTO THE SIGHTS OF A GERMAN U-BOAT LURKING OFF THE GEORGIA COAST. TWO TORPEDOES SLAMMED INTO THE SHIP, ONE DIRECTLY INTO THE ENGINE ROOM. HE DIVED INTO THE WATER. THE ENTIRE TANKER SANK WITHIN TEN MINUTES. FORTY LIVES WERE LOST. HE ALSO WITNESSED THE DEVASTATION TO LONDON.