STEIN, MEYER Dec 31, 1942 age 24 MIA North Atlantic

BERNARD MEYER STEIN  b. 1920 Michigan d. Dec 31, 1942  Missing in Action Atlantic Ocean

Ensign 0152775 Naval Reserve S.S. C.J. Barkdull

17685 Cooley

Buried: Memorialized Battery Park New York City

Parents: Harry & Eleanor K

Sibling: Sylvia P.   

Harry and Eleanor immigrated separately in the early 1900’s; he from Lithuania and she from Russia. In the 1930’s Harry was a shoe salesman and by 1940 he was the proprietor of Steins Department Store in the heart of Old Redford, Lahser and Grand River.  Steins was located in the former Peoples State Bank building. They were related to Bernard Stein, also on the memorial plaque, killed in the war; the father of Bernard worked at Steins who lived just up the road on Lahser. Meyer’s family lived at 17685 Cooley.

Meyer graduated from Redford in 1936 and went on to complete 3 years of college. He was on the S.S.C.J. Barkdull when it left New York on Dec 12, 1942. An American merchant ship sailing under the Panamanian flag, the C.J. Barkdull was a steam tanker hauling 60,186 barrels of oil, and was one of 42 vessels that made up convoy UGS-3. They were bound for Casablanca and Gibraltar. There were 38 Merchant Mariners and 20 U.S. Navy Armed Guard on board as the Barkdull left New York. Almost immediately the tanker fell back from convoy not able to keep up. They never arrived at their destination and on January 30, 1943 the War Shipping Administration reported that the ship was ‘long overdue and presumed lost as a result of enemy action.” Nothing was ever found of the ship or the men. These are the known facts. Although there are many theories and much speculation as to the fate of the Barkdull what actually happened is unknown. It was thought for a time that German submarine U-632 had torpedoed the tanker, but that’s now discounted and Barkdull is no longer listed as a hit for that sub. It appears that she may have sustained damage in a minor collision during convoy formation and then heavy weather took the damaged ship down. The 58 men on board all died in service to their country.

 

Sadly no photos were found nor is there a grave marker with which to remember Meyer.