In Memory Of

CLOBRIDGE, CLARENCE ALLEN

Service Details
Age:
 50
Date of Birth:
 1891-11-23
Service No:
 53161
Rank:
 Steward
Unit:
 City of New York
Regiment:
 United States Merchant Marine
Date of Death:
 1942-03-29
Cause of Death:
 Killed in action, torpedoed off east coast of USA. At 19.36 hours on 29 Mar, 1942, the unescorted City of New York (Master George T. Sullivan) was hit by one G7a torpedo from U-160 about 40 miles east of Cape Hatteras, while she steamed in twenty-foot seas on a nonevasive course at 14 knots. The torpedo struck after a running time of just 29 seconds at the #3 hold just below the bridge on the port side at the waterline. The armed guards fired twelve shots with the 4in gun on the poop (the ship was also armed with four .50cal and four .30cal guns) at the periscope. The U-boat circled the stern at a distance of about 250 yards and fired off the starboard quarter a coup de grâce that struck the starboard side at #4 hold, causing the ship to sink stern first after 20 minutes. The most of the 13 officers, 70 crewmen and 41 passengers abandoned ship in four lifeboats, the nine armed guards jumped off the ship as water reached the after deck.
Commemoration
Cemetery:
 DIED AT SEA
Country:
 Lost at Sea
Additional Information
Citations:
 ***Not yet accepted for War Grave Status by CWGC, need service file
Son of Allen Parson Clobridge & Hannah Nelson. Married Ada Merle Shinn on June 21, 1916 in Harrison co, Iowa. They divorced. He married Rosa Mae Rathbun on Jan. 11, 1930 in Denver, Colorado. Clarence joined the US Merchant Marines about 1935. He sailed to Cuba, Denmark, Trinidad, Nova Scotia, Jamacia & Africa.