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July 1, 1942 The freighter Warrior, carrying general war supplies and fuel, left New York for Iran, according to records at the Naval Historical Center. Aboard were 34 men, 14 Navy Armed Guards and eight officers. The Warrior passed a squall north of Trinidad and had altered course when it was attacked by the German submarine U126 on July 1, 1942. The first torpedo hit underneath the bridge. The second torpedo struck the No. 5 hatch, breaking the propeller shaft. The ship sank rapidly, said Jack Green, public affairs officer at the Naval Historical Center. The crew only had time to launch two boats. Before the ship sank, Green said the forward gun crew was able to fire four rounds but went down with the ship. Abasta's citation had more details: "The ship began settling by the stern immediately after the first explosion. But Abasta remained at the side of his commanding officer after the rest of the crew ... abandoned the vessel. From a precarious position on the sloping deck, he continued to man a 3- inch gun with utter disregard for his own personal safety, according to his citation. "By his unyielding loyalty in the face of imminent, ever- increasing danger, he helped prevent the full surfacing of the attacking submarine, preventing further casualties," the citation stated. Abasta waited until the Warrior completely upended before he tried to put on a life belt, lost his footing and fell from the platform into the sea. He was among the three crewmen and four members of the forward gun crew listed as casualties. "An Allied ship picked up the survivors four hours after the attack and landed them in Trinidad," Green said.
Criteria The Silver Star may be awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the Armed Forces of the United States, is cited for gallantry in action, against an enemy of the United States whil... The Silver Star may be awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the Armed Forces of the United States, is cited for gallantry in action, against an enemy of the United States while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force or, while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.The required gallantry, while of a lesser degree than that required for the award of a Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, or Air Force Cross, must nevertheless have been performed with marked distinction. MoreHide
Comments Awarded for actions during the World War II
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Apprentice Seaman Frank Patrick Abasta (NSN: 3828290), United S... Awarded for actions during the World War II
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Apprentice Seaman Frank Patrick Abasta (NSN: 3828290), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a member of the Armed Guard on board the S.S. Warrior when his ship was attacked on 1 July 1942. Apprentice Seaman Abasta remained at the side of his Commanding Officer after the rest of the crew had abandoned the vessel following a torpedoing, despite the fact that the ship began settling by the stern immediately after the first explosion. From a precarious position on the sloping deck Apprentice Seaman Abasta continued to man a 3-inch gun with utter disregard for his own personal safety. Too intent upon directing fire at the threatening submarine to consider his own plight, Apprentice Seaman Abasta waited until the ship had completely upended before putting on a life belt, then lost his footing, fell from the platform, and slid into the sea. By his unyielding loyalty in the face of imminent, ever-increasing danger he helped prevent the full surfacing of the attacking submarine and subsequent possibility of further casualties.
General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 309 (December 1942)
Action Date: 1-Jul-42
Service: Navy
Rank: Apprentice Seaman
Company: Armed Guard
Division: S.S. Warrior MoreHide
Criteria The Purple Heart may be awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the Armed Forces, has been wounded, kill... The Purple Heart may be awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the Armed Forces, has been wounded, killed, or who has died or may die of wounds received in armed combat or as a result of an act of international terrorism. MoreHide
Criteria The Combat Action Ribbon is a personal decoration awarded to members of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard (when operating under the control of the Navy) in the grade of captain (or colonel in th... The Combat Action Ribbon is a personal decoration awarded to members of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard (when operating under the control of the Navy) in the grade of captain (or colonel in the Marine Corps) and below who have actively participated in ground or surface combat. MoreHide
Criteria The American Campaign Medal was awarded for For thirty days service outside the Continental United States but within the American Theater of Operations between December 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946; or,... The American Campaign Medal was awarded for For thirty days service outside the Continental United States but within the American Theater of Operations between December 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946; or, an aggregate service of one year within the Continental United States during the same period under the following circumstances: On permanent assignment outside the continental limits of the United States; or, On permanent assignment as a member of a crew of a vessel sailing ocean waters for a period of 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days; or, For service outside the continental limits of the United States in a passenger status or on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 non consecutive days; or, For service in active combat against the enemy and awarded a combat decoration or furnished a certificate by the commanding general of a corps, higher unit, or independent force that the individual actually participated in combat; or, For service within the continental limits of the United States for an aggregate period of one year. MoreHide
Criteria The European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal was awarded for for qualifying service within the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations between December 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946, ... The European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal was awarded for for qualifying service within the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations between December 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946, under any of the following conditions: On permanent assignment within the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater; or, For service in a passenger status or on temporary duty status for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days; or, For service in active combat in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations against the enemy and awarded a combat decoration or furnished a certificate by the commanding general of a corps, higher unit, or independent force that the individual actually participated in combat. MoreHide
Description The European-Mediterranean-Middle East Theater was a major theater of operations during the Second World War (between December 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946). The vast size of Europe, Mediterranean and MThe European-Mediterranean-Middle East Theater was a major theater of operations during the Second World War (between December 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946). The vast size of Europe, Mediterranean and Middle East theatre saw interconnected naval, land, and air campaigns fought for control of the Mediterranean, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. The fighting in this theatre lasted from 10 June 1940, when Italy entered the war on the side of Germany, until 2 May 1945 when all Axis forces in Italy surrendered. However, fighting would continue in Greece – where British troops had been dispatched to aid the Greek government – during the early stages of the Greek Civil War.
The British referred to this theatre as the Mediterranean and Middle East Theatre (so called due to the location of the fighting and the name of the headquarters that controlled the initial fighting: Middle East Command) while the Americans called the theatre of operations the Mediterranean Theatre of War. The German official history of the fighting is dubbed 'The Mediterranean, South-East Europe, and North Africa 1939–1942'. Regardless of the size of the theatre, the various campaigns were not seen as neatly separated areas of operations but part of one vast theatre of war.
Fascist Italy aimed to carve out a new Roman Empire, while British forces aimed initially to retain the status quo. Italy launched various attacks around the Mediterranean, which were largely unsuccessful. With the introduction of German forces, Yugoslavia and Greece were overrun. Allied and Axis forces engaged in back and forth fighting across North Africa, with Axis interference in the Middle East causing fighting to spread there. With confidence high from early gains, German forces planned elaborate attacks to be launched to capture the Middle East and then to possibly attack the southern border of the Soviet Union. However, following three years of fighting, Axis forces were defeated in North Africa and their interference in the Middle East was halted. Allied forces then commenced an invasion of Southern Europe, resulting in the Italians switching sides and deposing Mussolini. A prolonged battle for Italy took place, and as the strategic situation changed in southeast Europe, British troops returned to Greece.
The theatre of war, the longest during the Second World War, resulted in the destruction of the Italian Empire and altered the strategic position of Germany resulting in numerous German divisions being deployed to Africa and Italy and total losses (including those captured upon final surrender) being over half a million. Italian losses, in the theatre, amount to around to 177,000 men with a further several hundred thousand captured during the process of the various campaigns. British losses amount to over 300,000 men killed, wounded, or captured, and total American losses in the region amounted to 130,000.... More
July 1, 1942 The freighter Warrior, carrying general war supplies and fuel, left New York for Iran, according to records at the Naval Historical Center. Aboard were 34 men, 14 Navy Armed Guards and eight officers. The Warrior passed a squall north of Trinidad and had altered course when it was attacked by the German submarine U126 on July 1, 1942. The first torpedo hit underneath the bridge. The second torpedo struck the No. 5 hatch, breaking the propeller shaft. The ship sank rapidly, said Jack Green, public affairs officer at the Naval Historical Center. The crew only had time to launch two boats. Before the ship sank, Green said the forward gun crew was able to fire four rounds but went down with the ship. Abasta's citation had more details: "The ship began settling by the stern immediately after the first explosion. But Abasta remained at the side of his commanding officer after the rest of the crew ... abandoned the vessel. From a precarious position on the sloping deck, he continued to man a 3- inch gun with utter disregard for his own personal safety, according to his citation. "By his unyielding loyalty in the face of imminent, ever- increasing danger, he helped prevent the full surfacing of the attacking submarine, preventing further casualties," the citation stated. Abasta waited until the Warrior completely upended before he tried to put on a life belt, lost his footing and fell from the platform into the sea. He was among the three crewmen and four members of the forward gun crew listed as casualties. "An Allied ship picked up the survivors four hours after the attack and landed them in Trinidad," Green said.