Charlie Johnson was the bosun aboard the SS Marine Electric when she went down in 15 - 18 ft. seas, 40 mph winds, about 30 miles east of Chincoteague, VA. Thirty-one of the 34 crew members died when they had to abandon ship into frigid, 39 degree, water. Most, including Charlie, dying from hypothermia.
The SS Marine Electric was a 605 ft. coal freighter and was en-route from Norfolk to Somerset, MA. The tragedy tightened inspection standards, resulted in mandatory survival suits for winter North Atlantic runs, and helped create the now famous Coast Guard rescue swimmer program.
Charlie was the son of Henry J. Johnson, Sr. and Ledrester Bradley. His death certificate says he was divorced, however, his wife did an interview that appears in the Mobile Register on Feb. 17th. She stated she had spoken with her husband the Monday before the accident.
He had served in the US Army from March 17, 1953 - January 28, 1955.
His body was removed to Prichard, AL
VA Death Certificate
U.S. Dept. of Vet. Affairs
U.S. Soc. Sec. Applications
Mobile Register (AL) Feb 17, 1983, p.: 2-B
The SS Marine Electric was a 605 ft. coal freighter and was en-route from Norfolk to Somerset, MA. The tragedy tightened inspection standards, resulted in mandatory survival suits for winter North Atlantic runs, and helped create the now famous Coast Guard rescue swimmer program.
Charlie was the son of Henry J. Johnson, Sr. and Ledrester Bradley. His death certificate says he was divorced, however, his wife did an interview that appears in the Mobile Register on Feb. 17th. She stated she had spoken with her husband the Monday before the accident.
He had served in the US Army from March 17, 1953 - January 28, 1955.
His body was removed to Prichard, AL
VA Death Certificate
U.S. Dept. of Vet. Affairs
U.S. Soc. Sec. Applications
Mobile Register (AL) Feb 17, 1983, p.: 2-B
Charlie Johnson was the bosun aboard the SS Marine Electric when she went down in 15 - 18 ft. seas, 40 mph winds, about 30 miles east of Chincoteague, VA. Thirty-one of the 34 crew members died when they had to abandon ship into frigid, 39 degree, water. Most, including Charlie, dying from hypothermia.
The SS Marine Electric was a 605 ft. coal freighter and was en-route from Norfolk to Somerset, MA. The tragedy tightened inspection standards, resulted in mandatory survival suits for winter North Atlantic runs, and helped create the now famous Coast Guard rescue swimmer program.
Charlie was the son of Henry J. Johnson, Sr. and Ledrester Bradley. His death certificate says he was divorced, however, his wife did an interview that appears in the Mobile Register on Feb. 17th. She stated she had spoken with her husband the Monday before the accident.
He had served in the US Army from March 17, 1953 - January 28, 1955.
His body was removed to Prichard, AL
VA Death Certificate
U.S. Dept. of Vet. Affairs
U.S. Soc. Sec. Applications
Mobile Register (AL) Feb 17, 1983, p.: 2-B
The SS Marine Electric was a 605 ft. coal freighter and was en-route from Norfolk to Somerset, MA. The tragedy tightened inspection standards, resulted in mandatory survival suits for winter North Atlantic runs, and helped create the now famous Coast Guard rescue swimmer program.
Charlie was the son of Henry J. Johnson, Sr. and Ledrester Bradley. His death certificate says he was divorced, however, his wife did an interview that appears in the Mobile Register on Feb. 17th. She stated she had spoken with her husband the Monday before the accident.
He had served in the US Army from March 17, 1953 - January 28, 1955.
His body was removed to Prichard, AL
VA Death Certificate
U.S. Dept. of Vet. Affairs
U.S. Soc. Sec. Applications
Mobile Register (AL) Feb 17, 1983, p.: 2-B
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