"The coastline voyages were unescorted by any Navy vessels or even airplanes, and they were easy prey for the submarines, and many ships were sunk along the coast." (Audio Interview, 19:13)

William S. Chambers

William Chambers, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania [1943] War: World War, 1939-1945 Branch: Merchant Marine Service Location: Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Pacific Theaters Rank: Ship's Master Place of Birth: PA

William Chambers was en route to Hawaii on a cargo ship on December 7, 1941, when his captain announced news of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Chambers had been in effect training for war for two years. At 18, he entered the Pennsylvania State Nautical School in October 1939, shortly after WWII broke out in Europe, and the school had its students learn the ropes on different vessels of the U.S. Navy. During the war, Chambers made many dangerous voyages, none worse than a 1942 trip to the Soviet Union on which he lost three ships to torpedoes or mines. At war’s end, he was still at sea, carrying supplies for the invasion of Japan which were never needed.