More Remembrances

On November 10, 1975, the freighter SS Edmund Fitzgerald sank in an early November storm on Lake Superior, sinking to the bottom and causing the death of 29 crew members. The ship took off from Superior, Wisconsin, sister city to Duluth, Minnesota, on its way to Cleveland carrying 26,000 tons of iron ore. Sailing on into the Lake it got hit by a freak early gale with hurricane-force winds and 35 foot high waves. It sank in the early hours of November 10th, just seventeen miles away from 'safe' harbor at Whitefish Point, losing all hands.

In 1995 an expedition was held to find the wreck on the Lake bottom. That resulted in the reclamation of the brass bell from the ship which has been mounted at the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point Light Station. Each November 10th the bell is rung twenty-nine times, once for each crew member who was lost. Read their names and remember them today...

Michael E. Armagost, 37
Third Mate Iron River, Wisconsin

Frederick J. Beetcher, 56
Porter Superior, Wisconsin

Thomas D. Bentsen, 23
Oiler St. Joseph, Michigan

Edward F. Bindon, 47
First Assistant Engineer Fairport Harbor, Ohio

Thomas D. Borgeson, 41
Maintenance Man Duluth, Minnesota

Oliver J. Champeau, 41
Third Assistant Engineer Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin

Nolan S. Church, 55
Porter Silver Bay, Minnesota

Ransom E. Cundy, 53
Watchman Superior, Wisconsin

Thomas E. Edwards, 50
Second Assistant Engineer Oregon, Ohio

Russell G. Haskell, 40
Second Assistant Engineer Millbury, Ohio

George J. Holl, 60
Chief Engineer Cabot, Pennsylvania

Bruce L. Hudson, 22
Deck Hand North Olmsted Ohio

Allen G. Kalmon, 43
Second Cook Washburn, Wisconsin

Gordon F. MacLellan, 30
Wiper Clearwater, Florida

Joseph W. Mazes, 59
Special Maintenance Man Ashland, Wisconsin

John H. McCarthy, 62
First Mate Bay Village, Ohio

Ernest M. McSorley, 63
Captain Toledo, Ohio

Eugene W. O'Brien, 50
Wheelsman Toledo, Ohio

Karl A. Peckol, 20
Watchman Ashtabula, Ohio

John J. Poviach, 59
Wheelsman Bradenton, Florida

James A. Pratt, 44
Second Mate Lakewood, Ohio

Robert C. Rafferty, 62
Steward Toledo, Ohio

Paul M. Riippa, 22
Deck Hand Ashtabula, Ohio

John D. Simmons, 63
Wheelsman Ashland, Wisconsin

William J. Spengler, 59
Watchman Toledo, Ohio

Mark A. Thomas, 21
Deck Hand Richmond Heights, Ohio

Ralph G. Walton, 58
Oiler Fremont, Ohio

David E. Weiss, 22
Oiler Fremont, Ohio

Blaine H. Wilhelm, 52
Oiler Moquah, Wisconsin


And while you remember these brave sailors whose broken ship went down into history thanks to an early November gale and a Canadian songwriter, let's also turn our thoughts to our veterans.

Sunday, November 11th, is Veteran's Day in the United States. It is a day to honor all veterans from all wars because each and every one of them had to experience a life that no mother truly wishes for her son (or daughter).

As someone who grew up during the Vietnam War era, I grew up in a time when those who wore the uniform of the armed forces in this country were denigrated, vilified and sometimes persecuted for their service. When the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan began, there was a shift by the people of this nation to realize that you didn't have to support the policy to honor the soldier. We honor our veterans from all wars, whether or not we support the particular war they were involved in. Thank a veteran over the weekend for their service. They richly deserve it.