WILLIAM V. O'HARA

Cadet William V. O’Hara was stationed on the MS Sawokla. The ship was built and owned by the American Export Lines in 1920 in Tampa, FL. The ship’s homeport was in New York City. The ship was carrying jute and gunnies in half ton barrels to Capetown, South Africa. The ship was struck by two salvos, fire from the German Raider Michel, killing the captain and two seamen. Next a torpedo hit it behind the stack, destroying the engine room. There were 41 crewmembers onboard that died, and 30 crewmen that were captured.