Zeugner III, John Joseph

Name and Rank, Major John Joseph Zeugner III.

Unit/Placed in, 32nd Photographic Squadron, 5th Reconnaissance Group.

SS Paul Hamilton

On April 2, 1944 the SS Paul Hamilton (Libertyship) left as part of a Convoy and carrying Supplies and Men from the 485^th Bomber Group to Italy, but on April 20, 1944 the Convoy was attacked by the German off the Algerian Coast, the SS Paul Hamilton was struck by an Aerial Torpedo and blew up, off the 580 Men only 1 survived.

They are remembered at the Wall of Missing at Carthage Cemetery.

John was born approx. on Jul. 14, 1914 in Baltimore County, Maryland.

Parents and Siblings no record.

John entered the service from Maryland with service number # O-398321.

John J. Zeugner III was a Pilot (P-38) in the 32nd Photographic Squadron.

John J. Zeugner III was Killed in Action onboard the Liberty ship SS Paul Hamilton when it was torpedoed by an Junker Ju-88 and blew up, on April 20, 1944, and he is honored with a Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

On the Liberty ship S.S. Paul Hamilton there were 317 Souls (of the 580 all together) from the 32nd photographic Squadron, 25 remaining PRS-Men were onboard the Cargo ship SS Fitzhugh-lee, The explosion on the S.S. Paul Hamilton was so intense that it blew in hatch covers on the Cargo ship covering her with oil and debris.

John is buried at North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial, Carthage, Tunis, Tunisia.

Tablets of the Missing.

He is also Mentioned at the 32nd Photographic Squadron Memorial at Southlawn Memorial Park, Prince George, Prince George County, Virginia, USA.

Thanks to http://www.15thaf.org/5th_Photo_Recon/ Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Paul_Hamilton

Jean Louis Vijgen, ww2-Pacific.com and ww2-europe.com.

Air Force Info, Rolland Swank.

ABMC Website, https://abmc.gov

Marines Info, https://missingmarines.com/ Geoffrey Roecker

Seabees History Bob Smith https://seabeehf.org/

Navy Info, http://navylog.navymemorial.org

POW Info, http://www.mansell.com Dwight Rider and Wes injerd.

Philippine Info, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/ Robert Capistrano