DOB/DOD: May 13, 1919 (Philadelphia, PA) – April 5, 1943; 23 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried
LOCAL ADDRESS: Groton
SERVICE NUMBER: Z-153662
FAMILY: Born to Daniel F. (1881-) and Druscilla E. Crow Gorman (1885-1950) [both born in Canada]. Three brothers, Frank D. (1911-1989), William K. (1914-2000), and George E. (1925-2007). One sister, Muriel M. Gorman Pringle (1917-1998).
CIRCUMSTANCES: Although Eugene Gorman died on April 5, 1943, he wasn’t officially declared dead until April 6, 1944.
On March 27, 1943, Eugene Joseph Gorman, who had signed on as an Able Seaman, was on the American motor tanker MS Sunoil as it sailed out of New York with a 62-ship convoy, HX-321. Her cargo of 102,000 barrels of fuel oil was bound for Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Scotland.
Sometime before April 5th, having left Halifax, the tanker developed engine problems and was forced to fall back (straggle) from the convoy. On the 5th, German submarine U-563 spotted the zigzagging Sunoil and fired three torpedoes, one of which hit. The Armed Guards on board forced the U-boat to submerge, and a distress signal was heard by the British ship HMS Vidette, which came forward and averted another attack. Later that day, U-530 spied the tanker again and fired a spread of three torpedoes. One hit and the ship stopped. After being hit by two more torpedoes, the ship sank quickly. A destroyer in the vicinity searched for any sign of the ship without success before returning to the convoy.
There were 43 Merchant Mariners and 26 US Navy Armed Guards on board; none survived.
From The Day (New London, CT) on May 17, 1943
EUGENE GORMAN, GROTON MERCHANT MARINER, MISSING
Eugene Joseph Gorman of Groton is one of 55 New Englanders included in the eighth Merchant
Marine casualty list announced by the Navy Department. He is listed as missing. Mrs. Druscilla Gorman of 64 Branford Avenue, Groton, is listed as his next of kin. The list includes casualties—dead or missing—resulting from war action and reported to next of kin during the period from April 1 through April 30. Five other Connecticut men are on the list.