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The John D. Gill was a 523-foot tanker carrying 142,000 barrels of crude oil on a voyage from Texas to Philadelphia. On March 12, 1942, just 24 miles off the coast of North Carolina, disaster struck. The ship was part of the convoy system employed to protect vital supplies from Nazi German U-boat attacks, which had become a severe threat along the eastern seaboard of the United States during the early months of World War II.
The Attack
At around 10 PM, the Nazi U-Boat U-158 struck the John D. Gill with a torpedo, hitting oil tank #7 on the starboard side. The impact was devastating. Herbert Gardner, a 22-year-old crewmember, recalled that when the torpedo hit, it felt as though the chair beneath him was lifted. Floyd Ready, one of the Navy Armed Guards aboard the ship, described the scene as the West Texas crude oil, highly flammable, gushed into the ocean. While the oil did not ignite immediately, disaster was inevitable when a life-ring was thrown into the water, complete with a self-igniting flare. The explosion set the ocean ablaze.
The Heroic Efforts of Crew and Navy Armed Guards
As the ship began sinking and burning, the crew scrambled to abandon ship. Edwin F. Cheney Jr., the Quartermaster, demonstrated extraordinary heroism. Cheney launched a life-raft from the burning ship, swimming through pools of burning oil to clear waters, and subsequently guided four of his shipmates to safety. Cheney, severely burned in the process, was later awarded the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal by President Franklin D. Roosevelt for his courageous actions.
Unfortunately, life-rafts and escape routes were either on fire or too damaged to use. Floyd Ready and fellow Navy Armed Guard Gary Potts both jumped directly into the inferno, enduring burns and the harrowing swim to safety. The three men were eventually joined by Cheney's raft, offering a small hope amidst the chaos.
Survival and Rescue
Eleven survivors made it onto Cheney’s raft, and another fifteen escaped on a different raft. They were later rescued and taken to Dosher Memorial Hospital in Southport, North Carolina, where the medical staff worked tirelessly for 20 hours straight, led by trained nurses, including Josephine Hickman, to save everyone they could. Sadly, 23 men perished, including a young Filipino mess boy named Catalino "Benny" Tingzon, whose family was never located, and who now rests in Southport.
While the survivors mended their injuries, the U-158 continued its hunt for Allied vessels, eventually striking again. The U-boat's next victim came in June 1942 near Bermuda.
The Fate of the U-158
On June 29, 1942, U-158 attacked the Latvian steamer Everalda. After extracting sensitive information, the U-boat radioed it back to Nazi Germany. The U.S. Navy was able to intercept this communication, pinpointing the U-boat's location. The following day, as the crew of U-158 basked in the Bermuda sun, they were unaware of the U.S. Navy's approach. A PBM Mariner Bomber, piloted by Richard Schreder, Ensign Jack "Jocko" Gierisch, and Radioman Wrencie Vickers, appeared from the clouds. The crew dropped a depth charge, which lodged on the U-boat's deck. After a brief wait, the charge exploded when the submarine descended to the "trigger depth," sinking the U-boat and killing all aboard.
Schreder was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his role in the successful attack.
Defending the NC Coast: Horseback Patrols
In response to the growing threat of Nazi U-boats, the U.S. military took a variety of measures to protect the Eastern Seaboard. One of the most unique initiatives was the deployment of horseback patrols along the coast. These patrols, manned by Coast Guardsmen, patrolled the beaches on horseback, effectively covering ground without the need for gas or lights—resources that were in short supply. Additionally, horses could carry heavy radios and machine guns, making them effective in coastal defense.
One of the most famous locations for these patrols was Bald Head Island, where Coast Guardsmen patrolled East and South beaches. They were trained to recognize signs of enemy activity and would then use their radios to alert Navy and Air Force stations on the mainland. Over the course of the war, four Nazi submarines were sunk off the North Carolina coast, in part thanks to these vigilant horseback patrols.
A Legacy of Survival and Defense
The sinking of the John D. Gill serves as a powerful reminder of the danger and bravery during the early days of World War II. While the attack and the events surrounding it resulted in great loss, they also highlighted the courage and resourcefulness of those who survived. The story of Edwin Cheney and the efforts of the Coast Guardsmen on horseback, as well as the eventual defeat of U-158, show how America’s resilience and innovation helped turn the tide of war. So, the next time you walk along the beach, take a moment to reflect on the horseback protectors who patrolled these shores and the courage of the John D. Gill survivors who faced one of the war’s most harrowing sea battles.