Alphabet File page 147
In the very top military command, failure to halt the sinkings or sink the German U-Boats caused General George C. Marshall to write Admiral Ernest J. King June 19, 1942, that while escort craft was limited the crippling of tankers warranted re-examination to see if everything possible was being done since it was having a determining influence on the war.
June ship losses continued with nine more vessels lost.
-June 8 Tanker J.A. MOFFITT of 9,788 tons was sunk 15 miles off the Keys in the Gulf Stream.
-June 11 Tanker SHEHEREZADE (Panamanian) of 7,015 tons was sunk South of Morgan City, La.
-June 12 Tanker CITIES SERVICE TOLEDO of 8,192 tons was lost South East of Cameron, La., 70 miles out, with 15 lives lost amongst the 45 crew members.
-June 14 Friehgter GUNBOR of l, 121 tons was lost 40 miles North of Key West.
-June 17 Freightor SANTORE of 7,117 tons in Gulf Stream SSE of Key West.
-June 19 Freighter BOSILJKE (Yugoslav) of l, 810 tons was lost 40 miles NNW of Key West.
-June 22 Tanker RAWLEIGH WARNER of 3,663 tons was sunk practically just south of the Mississippi Coast between South Pass and South West Pass with all 33 lives lost.
-June 29 Tanker EMPIRE MICO of 4,676 tons was lost South of Port St. Joe, Florida.
Still it continued into July with 7 more vessels lost:
-July 2 Freighter EDWARD LUCKENBACH of 5,041 tons was sunk 30 miles NNW of Key West.
-July 6 Freighter BAYARD (Norway) of 2,160 tons sunk South of Chandeleur Island.
-July 7, Tanker PAUL HARWOOD of 6,610 tons was attacked, damaged but later salvaged SSE of Mouth of the Mississippi River.
-July 9 Tanker BENJAMIN BREWSTER of 5,950 tons was lost West South West of Grand Isle, La., with 36 men lost of the 42 crew aboard.
-July 11 Tanker R. W. GALLAGHER of 7,989 tons was sunk South of Houma and Morgan City, La., with 8 lives lost among the 52 men aboard.
-July 18 Freighter BAJA CALIFORNIA (Honduras) of 811 tons 75 miles South West of Naples, Florida.
-July 30 Transport ROBERT E. LEE of 5,1894 tons when South of Ala.-Miss. State line SE of Mobile, although escorted with an armed vessel, was sunk by enemy action with loss of 25% of the lives aboard. This is the only vessel reported to be carrying personnel (possible troops) rather than freight or fuel which was reported lost in the Gulf.
August was ushered in with a comparative victory for on the first day a Coast Guard utility amphibian J4F airplane with two men aboard-Chief Aviation Pilot Henry Clark White and Radioman First Class George Henderson Boggs, Jr. - - were patrolling an assigned area in the Gulf of 100 miles south of Houma, La. Suddenly in the bright early afternoon they saw a submarine (U-166) on the surface While Chief White turned to attack by diving over it from the stern, Radioman Boggs sent a hurried position message.
The submarine began a crash dive and although diving at fifty degrees at 25-feet altitude, Boggs watched with his head out of the window and in the clear water could see the U-Boat with the burst of spray over its exact spot. On returning they found a widening field of oil with nothing left under the water.
This was a direct hit which crumpled the U-166.
In a total of 61 bombing attacks, this was the only submarine destroyed by a Coast Guard plane in the war. White was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Boggs received the Air Medal. Boggs now lives in Gulfport, Miss.
For whatever reason, it seemed to signal the end of the German submarine success in the Gulf of Mexico. Only two ships were reported lost in August when:
-August 12 Freighter SANTIAGO DE CUBA (Cuban) of 989 tons was lost 25 miles south of Key West.
-August 13 Tanker R.M. PARKER of 6,779 tons was lost South of Houma, La.
It was not until:
April 3, 1943 Tanker GULFSTATE of 76,612 tons was sunk south of the Keys with not another until
December 3, 1943 Tanker TOUCHET of 10,172 tons was sunk in the Gulf with the loss of 9 lives of the 80 crew members.
During that year, however, Horn Island was taken over by the U. S. Government March 3, 1943, by the Army Chemical Warfare Service with work beginning in October on a highly classified secret program of Biological Warfare which was removed in late 1944 with final Government termination on August 13, 1945.
Similarly Cat Island was taken for Seabee amphibious training, a 400 sentinel dog training program with 200 personnel for use in the Pacific theatre, and Marine landing exercises The American Japanese volunteers (Nisei) were from units at Camp Shelby at Hattiesburg, Miss., who agreed to serve as “infiltrators” properly protected with heavy garments for the dogs to trace through the palmettos and brush. These brave men would remain in Fort Massachusetts on Ship Island during the night so the dogs would not become too familiar with them, cross over the water each morning, and work all day. Fortunately, none were injured. They won great honor also at the Battle of Cassino in Italy.
In 1944, November 2, the final sinking by submarine action was reported when an Electric Screw Steel Steamer of 10,198 tons was just 30 miles out of Tampa Bay when destroy During all this period of military action offshore, the coast was busy with military training camps, shipbuilding, hospital care, manufacturing, aerial activity in the 12 month mild climate, transportation, and activities of many thousands of people constantly on the move. Since a six months adjustment period may not be available such as the then new technical development of undersea warfare provided, and modern missiles are but minutes away at any time, it is to be hoped the unpreparedness illustrated in the first six months of 1942 will not be again duplicated.
Gex - deMoureile, Miss Stella, after a visit to the Misses Gex, has returned to New Orleans. (SCE, 6-17-1893)
Gex, Mr. L. M. -Mr. E. R. Chevally has sold his fine beach property, the "Waverly Cottage", the purchaser being Mr. Gex, a resident of Bay St. Louis. We are informed that the price paid is five thousand dollars. (SCE 12/03/1892)
Gex, Mr. and Mrs. were in New Orleans Monday on business. (SCE 12/03/1892)
Gex, Mr. and Mrs. - A number of the Bay's young folks agreeably surprised Mr. and Mrs. Gex, of "Waverly Cottage", on New Year's eve, and enjoyed a pleasant evening until the new year's advent. (SCE 01/07/1893)
Gex, Mr. L. M.- The Waverly Cottage, by L. M. Gex, entertains a housefull of boarders. People will always find out a good thing. (SCE 7/22/1893)
Gex, Mrs. - With compliments of Mrs. Gex, the editor has received an invitation reading this way: "The guests of Waverly Cottage cordially invite you to attend a dance, Saturday evening, July 22nd, Bay St. Louis." (SCE 7/22/1893)
Gex and Gex, Atts ____ S. Beach (Ph 48 thru 50) Merchants Bank Bldg (Ph 55)
Gex, Mrs. and daughter, Miss Stella, returned on Wednesday morning from a visit to New Orleans. (SCE 11/5/1892)
Gex, E. J. Jr., atty - 142 Main (Ph 48 thru 50)
Gex, Mr. L. M. - 56 years, died July 29, 1938. Son of Lucien M. Gex and Victoria Gex, buried Metairie Cemetery. (SCE 1938).
Gex, Ethel H. Miss r 210 S. Beach (Ph 49-50, 55)
Gex, Joseph W. (& Jennie) 966 S. Beach (Ph 86,87)
Gex, L. M. Mrs.- Sullivan, Miss Julia, after a stay of several weeks at the Bay as the guest of Mrs. L. M. Gex and daughters, returned to New Orleans Sunday evening. (SCE,41-1893)