Cecil A. Armstreet
U.S. Merchant Marine – World War II - Missing in Action
July 25, 2022 - Cecil A. Armstreet was born March 24, 1919 in the town of Joaquin, Shelby County, Texas, the only child of Ada Marie Largent and Dewey Eugene Armstreet. His parents were married in Shelby County on October 13, 1917 but later divorced and each remarrying giving Cecil five half-siblings.
On November 27, 1940 Cecil living in New York, NY registered for the first peacetime military draft in the history of the United States at age 21. He was employed by the Isthmian Steamship Company, US Steel, 25 Broadway, New York. His registration card described him as five foot nine and one half inches tall, 154 pounds, with brown eyes and hair. For identification purposes he listed “tattoos on both arms”.(1)
It is unclear exactly when he joined the Merchant Marines and given the service number of 178645 but in August 1942 Cecil was a Merchant Seaman with the rank of Second Pumpman aboard the unescorted American Steam Tanker “Jack Carnes” of the Sinclair Refining Company that departed Swansea, Wales on an independent voyage to Aruba, NWI. At 0818 hours on August 30 the ship was attacked by German U-Boat U705. Surviving this attack, the Jack Carnes was again attacked the next morning at 0154 hours by German U-Boat U-516. One torpedo struck on the starboard side forward of the bridge. Four minutes later another torpedo struck the starboard side amidships. Nine officers, 33 crewmen and 14 armed guards abandoned ship in two lifeboats. Three more torpedoes struck the Jack Carnes which then broke in two and sank at 04:26 hours.
The survivors set sail in a southerly direction, but a storm during the night reached gale force and separated the boats. Six days later one boat with the chief mate, four officers, 19 crewmen and four armed guards made landfall on Terceira Island, Azores. The other boat containing the master, three officers, 15 crewmen, 8 armed guards and two British gunners was never seen again. Cecil A. Armstrong, age 22 was among this group.(2) Day is done, God is nigh.
Note: Service in the Merchant Marine was considered civilian service under several different civilian personnel agencies. However, service was considered military in nature for those who served between December 7, 1941, and December 31, 1946. Merchant mariners or merchant seamen are assigned to vessels that primarily transport cargo and passengers during peacetime. During wartime, however, they can become an auxiliary to the United States Navy called upon to deliver military personnel and materiel for the military.(3)
Sources:
(1). National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for Texas, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 47
(2). https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship/2113.html
(3). https://www.archives.gov/news/articles/merchant-marine-records-document-maritime-service
