World War II Honoree

Sidney Mordes

Branch of Service

U.S. Merchant Marine

Hometown

Baltimore, Maryland

Honored By

Family

IN 1937 HE JOINED THE U.S. MARITIME SERVICE, THE MERCHANT MARINE, IMMEDIATELY AFTER GRADUATION. HE ROSE FROM ORDINARY SEAMAN TO MASTER MARINER AFTER ATTENDING THE U.S. COAST GUARD OFFICERS SCHOOL AT NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT AND SERVED AS AN OFFICER IN THE MERCHANT MARINE FROM 1942 TO 1948. HE SERVED AS QUARTERMASTER ON THE TANKER GULF AMERICA IN APRIL 1942 WHEN THE SHIP WAS TORPEDOED TWO MILES OFF THE COAST OF JACKSONVILLE BY GERMAN SUBMARINES. IN 1947, THE WAR SHIPPING ADMINISTRATION AWARDED HIM THE MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL FOR HIS COURAGE AND SKILL IN RESCUING CREWMEMBERS OF THE BRITISH MINE SWEEPER, HMS HEBE, SUNK AT BARI, ITALY IN NOVEMBER OF 1943, WHILE HE WAS SERVING ON THE SS GRACE ABBOTT. TWENTY TWO SHIPS WERE LOST IN THIS ATTACK BY THE AXIS POWERS.