Christmas Day 1944 never came for four Westmoreland County natives and 759 fellow servicemen who were passengers on a World War II troop transport ship headed for Cherbourg, France. On Christmas Eve, about 5 miles from its destination, the SS Leopoldville was torpedoed by a German submarine and sank, taking
Christmas Day 1944 never came for four Westmoreland County, Pa., natives and 759 fellow service members who were passengers on a World War II troop transport ship headed for Cherbourg, France.
Most of the killed and missing were from the 262nd and 264th Infantry Regiments of the 66th “Black Panther” Infantry Division on their way to the Battle of the Bulge. They came from every state in the nation but one.
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Courtesy of Allan Andrade
An illustration depicts the Christmas Eve 1944 sinking of the troop transport SS Leopoldville after it was hit by a German torpedo off the coast of France. The image was published in Allan Andrade’s book on the incident and was produced by Richard Rockwell, an Edinboro University graduate, in memory of Rockwell’s friend, Wilbur Sloan of New Castle, who was among those who perished in the disaster.
Courtesy of June Monk
The late Carl Monk of Manor, an Army veteran, survived the German torpedo strike on the SS Leopoldville.
Courtesy of June Monk
Carl Monk (right) of Manor and his brother, Sam, are seen in uniform while serving in World War II. Sam was a warrant officer in the Army Air Corps. Carl, who rose to the rank of sergeant in an Army infantry unit, survived a German torpedo strike on his troop transport ship on Christmas Eve 1944 off the French coast.