Sandra Baker Cardens as a teenager at the gravesite of her father, Sgt. Elmer August Baker.
The photos on this page would not have been possible were it not for the cooperation of over 165 different families from all across America who shared their photos and memories of their loved ones who died in the sinking of the troopship Leopoldville on Christmas Eve 1944 with Leopoldville Disaster author/historian Allan Andrade. Anyone seeking further information about the Leopoldville disaster or who wishes to contribute a photo and information regarding a relative killed in the catastrophe should e-mail Allan Andrade at agandrade37@msn.com.
Pfc. Leslie G. Abbott
Pfc. Leslie G. Abbott from Maple Rapids, Michigan was born on February 27, 1926. He was one of seven children and the oldest of four boys. His body was never found.
Pfc. Peter L. Acri
Pfc. Peter Acri was from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He is pictured with his wife Velma and son Jim. Velma had a portrait taken of her with baby James Douglas which she had intended to send to her husband. Later, she had that picture superimposed on a portrait of Peter. His body was never found.
Pfc. Harise E. Ainsworth
Pfc. Ainsworth from Mize, Mississippi was born on February 14, 1926. Raised on a small farm, he was the 6th of 8 children. His body was never found.
Pfc. James V. Alania
Pfc. Alania from Lowville, New York was born on July 17,1912. His wife, the former Lucille “Peggy” Largett was born on August 8, 1913. The couple were married on June 18, 1940 and their son, Larry, was born on June 28, 1943. The body of Pfc. Alania was never found.
Pvt. Joseph Alexandrovich
Pvt. Alexandrovich was from Hudson, Massachusetts. His body was recovered. He is buried in Normandy American Cemetery, France.
Pfc. Martin F. Anderson
Pfc. Anderson from San Diego, California, graduated from Hoover High School, San Diego in 1939. His picture is from the 1939 year book. Assigned to Company I, 2nd platoon, 262nd regiment, there were 16 survivors from his platoon of which 11 were hospitalized. There were 23 bodies from his platoon never found. The body of Pfc. Anderson was the only one from his platoon recovered.
Pvt. Marvin C. Anderson
Pvt. Anderson from Ft. Worth, Texas was born on August 30, 1923. He graduated from Arlington Heights High School, Ft. Worth, Texas in 1941. His picture is from the 1941 High School year book called The Yellow Jacket. His body was never found. There is however, a memorial stone in Greenwood Memorial Park and Mausoleum, Ft. Worth, Texas.
Pfc. Lloyd Lamar Andrews
Pfc. Andrews was from Center, Texas. His body was never found.
1/ Lt. Preston B. Appleby
From Houston, Texas, Preston Appleby was one of 35 soldiers killed from that state. His body was recovered and returned to the United States after the war.
Pfc. Robert B. Appleman
Pfc. Appleman was from Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. He has an older brother named Tom and a sister named Lois. His body was never found.
Pvt. Albert J. Arnold
Pvt. Arnold from Frye, Maine was one of 11 soldiers killed from that state. He was married and had two daughters. His body was never found.
Pfc. Frank Aschmann
Pfc. Aschmann was from Croton-on-the-Hudson, New York, One of 80 killed from New York State, his body was never found.
S/Sgt. Robert Lee Ash
Sgt. Ash from Flintstone, Maryland was 20 years old. His body was never found.
Pfc. Byron E. Babb, Jr.
Pfc. Babb was from Wichita, Kansas and was one of 6 soldiers killed from that state. He is pictured with his wife, Louise, on their wedding day. His body was never found.
Pfc. Donald W. Bader
Pfc. Donald Bader was from Lakewood, Ohio. His body was never found.
Pfc. Emil Bain
Pfc. Bain was from Gary, Indiana. He was one of 28 soldiers killed from that state. His body was never found.
2/Lt. Donald A. Baker
Lt. Baker was from Biddeford, Maine. His body was never found.
Sgt. Elmer August Baker
Sgt. Baker was from New Bloomfield, Missouri and was one of 31 soldiers killed from that state. He is pictured with his wife, Geneva and daughter Sandra Joyce. His body was recovered and after the war was returned to the United States.
Pfc. Ronald C. Bannick
Pfc. Bannick was from Elkton, Michigan. His body was never found.
Pfc. Hugh R. Barr
Pfc. Barr was from North Carolina. His body was recovered. He is buried in Normandy American Cemetery in France.
T/Sgt. Dante J. Bartalena
T/Sgt. Bartalena was born in Vermont in 1917. His last civilian address was in the Bronx, NYC. According to his cousin he was married only about six months when he was killed in the Leopoldville sinking. His body was never found. His picture is from the Rutland High School, Vermont 1936 Graduation yearbook.
Pfc. Marvin J. Barton
Pfc. Barton was from Poughkeepsie, New York. His body was never found.
Pvt. Eugene H. Barwick
Pvt. Barwick was born on December 13, 1922, in Cairo, Georgia. He was the 4th of 6 children. He played high school football and was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting and fishing. He graduated from Cairo High School in May 1941 and was the class valedictorian. The salutatorian, Ruth Walker, was also his sweetheart. They were married in the Camp Rucker, Alabama , post chapel on May 5, 1944. The body of Pvt. Barwick was never found. His young bride eventually remarried. Ironically, she died some 20 years later on a Christmas Eve.
Sgt. John E. Bassett
John Bassett was born in 1924 in Rye, New York. His brother, William, became a newspaper reporter and his sister, Margaret, was a secretary for the Rye Probation Department of the Rye Children’s court. Sgt. Bassett graduated from Rye High School in 1942. His body was never found. Photo from his 1942 High School year book courtesy of Rye High School.
Pfc. William E. “Buck” Bell
Pfc. William E. “Buck” Bell was from Valliant, Oklahoma. His body was never found.
Pfc. Edward E. Benson
Pfc. Edward Benson from Camden, New Jersey was one of 24 soldiers from that state killed in the disaster. His body was never found.
Pvt. Fred W. Berg
Pvt. Berg was from Oakland, California. His body was never found.
Pvt. Robert Berger
Pvt. Berger was from Norwood (Philadelphia), Pennsylvania. His body was recovered and returned to the United States after the war. The 24 year old was survived by his wife, Eleanor, his father, and two sisters. His photo is from The Pittsburgh Press obituary February 14, 1945.
Pfc. Raymond E. Berigtold
Pfc. Berigtold was from Baltimore, Maryland. His body was never found.
Pfc. Will Otis Biggart
Pfc. Biggart from Isola, Mississippi was born on November 28, 1925. His body was never found.
Pvt. Paul L. Billger
Pvt. Billger from Huntingdon, Pennsylvania was born on October 15, 1925. His body was recovered and returned to the United States in the Spring of 1948. He is buried in Sunset Memorial Cemetery, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania.
Pfc. Everett Ezra Birkholz
Pfc. Birkholz was from Denver, Colorado. His body was never found.
Pvt. Richard U. Bishop
Pvt. Bishop was from Greenville, Ohio. The body of the 18 year old was never found.
Pvt. Bruce E. Bixler
Pvt. Bixler from Valley View, Pennsylvania was born on January 21, 1926. He was the 5th child of 11 children and had 5 brothers & 5 sisters. His body was never found.
S/Sgt. Benjamin Joseph Blaskowski
S/Sgt. Blaskowski from Verona Station, New York was born on December 1, 1924. His parents died when he was a small boy and he was raised by his aunt, Mrs. Catherine Witusik, who lived in Oneida. He was employed in the maintenance department of Oneida Ltd. before entering the army in April 1943. His body was never found.
Pfc. Lawrence Alvin Boekhoff
Pfc. Boekhoff was born on February 20, 1926 in St. Cloud, Minnesota. The family later moved to Wellsburg, Iowa where Lawrence attended Wellsburg High School. He entered the service on May 12, 1944. He had 3 brothers who were also in the service. The body of 18 year old Pfc. Boekhoff was never found.
Pfc. Carl R. Bonde, Jr.
Pfc. Carl R. Bonde, Jr. (right) and army body Sgt. Irvin J. Weaver, Jr. (left). Pfc. Bonde was from Kalispell, Montana and Sgt. Weaver was from Dayton, Ohio. Both of them were assigned to Company E, Weapons Platoon, 262nd Regiment, 66th Infantry Division. The bodies of both young men were among the 23 from Weapons platoon that were never found.
Pvt. Dan & Sam Borovich
The Borovich brothers were from McDonald, Pennsylvania. Their bodies were recovered and returned to the United States after the war.
Sgt. Gerald Bosch
St. Bosch was from Maurice, Iowa. His body was never found. His photo is from the Sioux Center News February 1, 1945.
Pfc. Joseph C. Bouffard
Pfc. Bouffard was born in Marlboro, Massachusetts and attended schools there. He later lived in Hudson, Massachusetts and he had 3 sisters. The body of the 31 year old was never found.
Sgt. Oren A. Bouse
Sgt. Bouse was from Kokomo, Indiana. His photo is from his 1936 High School graduation yearbook. His body was recovered and after the war returned to the United States.
Pvt. Everett R. Bowling
Pvt. Bowling was from Beech, Kentucky. His body was recovered and returned to the United States after the war.
Pvt. Douglas Francis Brady
Pvt. Brady from Lake Geneva, Wisconsin was born on June 20, 1923. He graduated from Lake Geneva High School in 1941 and then studied pre-med at the University of Wisconsin. He entered the army in 1943 and was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, Medical Detachment, 262 Regiment, 66th Infantry Division at the time of the Leopoldville sinking. It was later reported that Medical Detachment soldiers stayed with the wounded rather then attempt to save themselves. The body of Pvt. Brady was never found.
Pfc. Robert Brande
Pfc. Brande was from Brooklyn, New York City, New York. Pictured with his wife Olga, his body was never found.
Pfc. Bruce F. Brisendine
Pfc. Brisendine from Pekin, Illinois was born on July 11, 1924. He graduated from Pekin High School in 1942. His body was never found. Photo courtesy of Cynthia Hinderliter, Pekin High School administration staff person. Photo is from the 1942 Graduation Yearbook.
Pfc. John W. Brown
Pfc. Brown was from Detroit, Michigan. The body of the 18 year old was recovered and buried in Normandy American Cemetery, France.
Pfc. Edwin D. Buell, III
Pfc. Buell was from Mills Creek, Indiana. His body was never found.
Pfc. Glen L. Buhler
Pfc. Buhler was from Boise, Idaho. The body of the 19 year old was never found. His photo is from the Great Falls Tribune newspaper obituary April 1, 1945.
Pvt. Ralph E. Burhart
Pvt. Burkhart was from Meyersdale, Pennsylvania. His body was never found.
Pfc. Charles L. Bush
Pfc. Bush was from Ewing, Virginia. His body was recovered and returned to the United States. He is buried in Lee Memorial Park, Woodway, Lee County, Virginia.
Pfc. Robert Sutton Byrd
Pfc. Robert Byrd was from Ocean Springs, Mississippi. One of 21 soldiers killed from that state, his body was never found.
S/Sgt. Anthony F. Cacace
Sgt. Cacace was from Brooklyn, New York City. His body was never found.
S/Sgt. Vincent R. Calabrese
Sgt. Calabrese pictured with his wife, Mary, was from Corona, Queens, New York City. His body was never found.
S/Sgt. Michael P. Cammarano
Sgt. Cammarano was from NYC, New York. He was married but had no children. His body was recovered and after the war returned to the United States.
Pvt. Fay Cannon
Pvt. Cannon was from Greeneville, Tennessee. His last letter home dated December 21, 1944 read in part, “Don’t worry, and we’ll all be home soon to stay.” The body of the 18 year old was never found.
S/Sgt. Carl L. Canon
S/Sgt. Canon was from Kansas City, Missouri. His body was never found.
S/Sgt. Dominick J. Cappello
Sgt. Cappello was from New York City. His body was never found.
T/4 Concetto J. Caracoglia
C. J. Caracoglia from Hartford, Connecticut was assigned to the 262nd Regiment Medical Detachment. It was later reported that many of the men assigned to the medical detachment remained on deck to care for the wounded rather then try to save themselves. There were only 8 survivors from the medical detachment unit of which 3 were hospitalized. No bodies were recovered. The body of T/4 Caracoglia was among the 19 from medical detachment never found.
Pfc. Clarence and Pfc. Carl Carlson
The Carlson twins were from Jamestown, New York. Both brothers attended Jamestown High School. Carl majored in art while Clarence’s love was music. Clarence became an accomplished accordion player and planned to continue studying music after the war. The bodies of the twin brothers were never found.
Pfc. Garlon Carlton
Pfc. Carlton from Stockton, Alabama was born on December 18, 1925. His body was never found. Besides his widow, he was survived by his parents, four brothers, and four sisters.
S/Sgt. Gilbert D. Carrell
Sgt. Carrell from Wichita, Kansas was born in 1924. He graduated from Wichita High School where he played outstanding baseball, basketball, and football. He played semi-pro baseball in Wichita before entering into the army. Assigned to Company F, 262nd Regiment, his Company was quartered where the torpedo struck the ship. His body was never found.
Pvt. Marshall Carson (Left)
Pvt. Carson was from Providence, Rhode Island. Assigned to the 262nd Regiment Medical Detachment unit, his body was never found.
Pvt. Audie Lee Carter
Pvt. Carter was from Houston, Mississippi. He is pictured with members of his family. His body was never found.
Sgt. Angelo G. Catalano
Sgt. Catalano, from Brooklyn, New York City, was engaged to be married. He died on his 21st. birthday. His body was never found.
Pfc. Edward M. Cavalcante
Pfc. Cavalcante was from McClellandtown, Pennsylvania. His body was never found.
Pvt. Billy Thomas Caviness
Pvt. Caviness from Clarksville, Texas was born on October 23, 1925. His photo is from his High School graduation year book. His body was never found.
Pfc. Peter Celentano
Pfc. Peter Celentano was from Johnston, Rhode Island. His last letter home to his wife, Louise, was dated December 5, 1944 and read in part, “I’m here in England and in good health and full of love for you. …I’ll be glad when we can go on our second honeymoon and buy that farm and try to be a civilian again.” His body was never found.
Pvt. Roderick E. Chace
Pvt. Chace was from Attleboro, Massachusetts. His body was never found.
Pvt. Leo K. Chalcraft
Pvt. Chalcraft from St. Petersburg, Florida, was born on December 18, 1925. His body was recovered and buried in France.
S/Sgt. Michael Chalkan, Jr.
S/Sgt. Chalkan, Jr. from Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania was born on December 24, 1924. His body was recovered. He is buried in Normandy American Cemetery in France. Note: Offical National archive army casualty list indicates Chalkan was a S/Sgt. not a T/Sgt. as indicated in a memorial obit.
Pfc. Floyd E. Chew
Pfc. Chew from Ramona, Oklahoma was born on October 7, 1923. His body was recovered and returned to the United States after the war. He is buried in Ramona Cemetery, Ramona, Oklahoma. Photo courtesy of Joe Todd.
Pfc. Calvin Glenn Christensen
Pvt. Christensen from American Falls, Idaho was born on December 26, 1916. Glenn, as everyone called him, was the oldest of 5 boys. He also had a sister. He married the former Anita L. Nicolaus on June 30, 1944. The body of Pvt. Christensen was never found. His bride of just under 6 months never remarried. She died on August 9, 1982 at the age of 64.
Pfc. Malcom B. Christopher
Pfc. Christopher was from Nutley, New Jersey. His body was never found.
Pfc. John W. Clark
Pfc. Clark from Medon, Tennessee was born in 1925. Before entering the army, he was a farm worker. His body was never found.
Cpl. Reginald J. Clark, Jr.
Cpl. Clark was from Swoyersville, Pennsylvania. His father’s last letter to him was written on Christmas Day December 25, 1944 and read in part, ” The joy we used to have on Christmas morning –opening packages– well, it is not like that anymore. Next Christmas, I hope all the boys will be home, and then we can say Merry Christmas.” The letter was returned unopened. The envelope was initialed by 2/Lt. Lee on January 30,1945, and stamped Deceased. Cpl. Clark’s body was never found.
Sgt. Richard Atkinson Claybrook
Richard Claybrook was born on August 19, 1913, and grew up in Plainfield, New Jersey. After Pearl Harbor, he made numerous attempts to obtain a commission in the army or navy but was rejected because of his eyesight. He married Virginia Ten Eyck Beardsley on April 2, 1943, in Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church, New York City. The couple’s wedding plans were speeded up because he was finally about to be inducted into the army. Following a brief honeymoon, he reported to Ft. Dix, New Jersey on April 7, 1943. The body of Sgt. Claybrook was never found.
1/Lt, Francis X. Coakley (Right)
Francis Coakley , from Elizabeth, New Jersey, learned golf as a caddy and became a teaching pro. In 1940, Coakley qualified for the national open in Cleveland, Ohio, and the Professional Golfer’s Association of America (PGA) Championship in Denver, Colorado. Coakley spent a year in special services touring for bond sales but wanted action, so he asked to be transferred to line duty. His body was never found.
Pfc. Thomas A. Cobb
Pfc. Cobb was from Ridgewood, New Jersey. His body was recovered and returned to the United States after the war.
Pvt. James P. Coen
Pvt. Coen was from the Bronx, New York City. Pvt. Coen (second from left) is pictured with members of his family. His body was recovered and is one of the 76 Leopoldville victims buried at Normandy American Cemetery in France.
Pfc. Edgle W. Cole
Pfc. Edgle Cole was from Sophia, West Virginia. His body was never found.
S/Sgt. Franklin W. Colwell
Sgt. Colwell was from Tuscola, Illinois. While station in England during December 1944, one night on guard duty, his feet became so frozen that he was placed on medical leave. When his company left for the Leopoldville, he was not supposed to leave with them because his feet had not fully healed. He insisted on going with his troops, however, and was returned to full duty. His wife, Laura, gave birth to his son, Michael, shortly before the sinking. Sgt. Colwell’s body was never found.
Pvt. Curtis Conn
Pvt. Conn was from Dana, Kentucky. His body was never found.
Pfc. Gregorio V. Contreras
Pfc, Contreras from Del Rio, Texas was born on March 12, 1921. He was the second of eight children. He joined the army during his senior year in high school. He was married just two weeks before shipping out. His body was recovered. He is buried in Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.
Pfc. Dean Leroy Cook
Pfc. Cook from Nevada, Iowa was born on May 15, 1924. His body was never found.
Pfc. William Costa
Pfc. Costa was from Providence, Rhode Island. He was born on December 18, 1920. His body was recovered.
Pfc. Philip Glenwood Cote
Pfc. Cote was from Dexter, Maine. His body was never found.
S/Sgt. John F. Cottrell
Sgt. Cottrell was from Lima, Ohio. His body was recovered and returned to the United States after the war.
Sgt. Coy C. Craig
Sgt. Craig from Pyror, Oklahoma was born on October 22, 1921. He was survived by his wife, Ruth, son, Wallace Denny, & his yet unborn daughter, Cheryl. His body was recovered. He is buried in Shirley Cemetery, Eldon, Oklahoma.
Capt. Hal F. Crain
Capt. Crain, from California, was a West Point Military Academy graduate. He gave away his own life jacket and then continued to search for and save men that were wounded until at last, he went down with the ship. As the result of efforts by Leopoldville survivor, Walter T. Brown, Capt. Crain was posthumously awarded the Silver Star on March 31, 1997. His Silver Star was donated to the National Infantry Museum, Ft. Benning, Georgia. The body of Capt. Crain was never found.
Pvt. Ralph Daniel Cram, Jr.
Pvt. Cram from Jamaica Plains, Massachusetts was born on February 9, 1926. His body was never found. Photo courtesy of Stephen Budau.
Pfc. Rolland D. Cronk
Pfc. Cronk was from Pleasant Mount, Pennsylvania. He his pictured from his 1931 Montrose High School year book. His body was never found.
Pfc. Elmar Ray Crowl
Pfc. Crowl was from Tulsa, Oklahoma. His body was never found.
Pvt. Salvatore C. Cuccia
Pvt. Cuccia, from Silver Creek, New York, was born on October 12, 1918. One of 8 children, he had 2 brothers and 5 sisters. He and his wife, Evelyn, had 3 children: a boy, Stephen, and 2 daughters, Ella Jane and Carolyn. Pvt. Cuccia’s body was recovered and after the war returned to his hometown for final burial.
Pfc. Glenn L. Cushman
Pfc. Cushman was from Minneapolis, Minnesota. The body of the 20 year old was recovered and after the war returned to the United States. He is buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Bloomington, Minnesota.
1/LT. Harry Cybak, Jr.
Lt. Cybak from Nemacolin, Pennsylvania was born on September 22, 1919. His body was recovered. He is buried in Normandy American Cemetery in France.