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Emmett J. Brighton
Cenotaph

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Emmett J. Brighton

Birth
Michigan, USA
Death
3 Feb 1943 (aged 21)
At Sea
Cenotaph
Tipton, Lenawee County, Michigan, USA Add to Map
Plot
Center Sec., Row 61
Memorial ID
View Source
Emmett's body was lost at sea and never recovered. This is a cenotaph memorial only. Also see Find-A-Grave #56284905 for another cenotaph memorial located in New York City.
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United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
Name (Original): BRIGHTON EMMETT J
Event Type: Military Service
Event Date: 08 Jun 1942
Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
Event Place: Detroit, Michigan, United States
Race: White
Citizenship Status: citizen
Birth Year: 1921
Birthplace: MICHIGAN
Education Level: 3 years of high school
Civilian Occupation: Architects
Marital Status: Single, without dependents
Military Rank: Private
Army Branch: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA
Army Component:
Source Reference: Civil Life
Serial Number: 16065351
Affiliate Publication Title: Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946
Affiliate ARC Identifier: 1263923
Box Film Number: 02142.71
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US Army WORLD WAR II
Passenger Private, Emmett Brighton MIA/KIA
Coast Artilery CORPS
Hometown: Detroit, Michigan
Ship: USAT Dorchester
Service # 16065351
Awards: Purple Heart, American Campaign Medal, European - African Campaign Medal
Captain: Captain Preston S. Krecker MIA/KIA

Mission: US Navy Convoy SG-19
Mission Date: 3-Feb-43
Location: off the coast of Greenland
Cause: Torpedo attack from U-223
Crew: On Board 902 · Saved 230 · Lost 672

Private Brighton appears Tablets of the Missing East Coast Memorial New York City he was lost Feb. 3rd 1943 officially declared killed Feb. 4th 1944. He has a cenotaph memorial Franklin Township Cemetery Tipton Lenawee County Michigan.

3 Feb. 1943, about 100 miles from Narsarssuak Greenland on a cold, moonless, starless night... At 00:55 a torpedo hit Dorchester's starboard side, just forward of her beam. The power and lights went out immediately. The Dorchester, listing to starboard, was able to get out six blasts on the fog horn, and had started another six blasts, when the steam ran out. Many of the troops, ordered to sleep with their lifebelts on, didn't do so because of the heat trapped within the ship's hull from her boilers. They came up to the deck to find stark contrast.
According to survivor accounts, commanding officer Captain Preston S. Krecker assisted his men in abandoning ship, and went down with the ship in so doing.

Dorchester is best remembered today for the story of the Four Chaplains who went down with her. The four chaplains found a deck box full of lifebelts and together started assisting the men who were without into the belts and overboard. Soon the box was empty. The chaplains, one by one removed their own lifebelts and gave them to men who had none. The Chaplains locked arms, sang and prayed for the men as the Dorchester sank with them on board. All four perished with the ship. In 1948 the US Postal Service issued a stamp to commemorate the sinking.

The S.S. Dorchester was one of three identical ships built in 1926 for the Merchants and Miners Transportation Company. In February 1942, the S.S. Dorchester entered the war effort as the United States Army Transport (U.S.A.T.) Dorchester. The Dorchester's master, Capt. L B Kendrick, continued on during the first five voyages to Greenland in 1942. After the fifth voyage he retired and master Danielson came aboard for his first and last voyage. Captain Krecker was the commanding officer while Lt. Arpaia was the commander of the Naval Armed Guard. Also aboard were four Army Chaplains, Father John Washington (Catholic), Reverend Clark Poling (Dutch Reformed), Rabbi Alexander Goode (Jewish) and Rev. George Fox (Methodist).

Visit the virtual cemetery of USAT Dorchester Crew at http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=vcsr&GSvcid=436200

Emmett's body was lost at sea and never recovered. This is a cenotaph memorial only. Also see Find-A-Grave #56284905 for another cenotaph memorial located in New York City.
------
United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
Name (Original): BRIGHTON EMMETT J
Event Type: Military Service
Event Date: 08 Jun 1942
Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
Event Place: Detroit, Michigan, United States
Race: White
Citizenship Status: citizen
Birth Year: 1921
Birthplace: MICHIGAN
Education Level: 3 years of high school
Civilian Occupation: Architects
Marital Status: Single, without dependents
Military Rank: Private
Army Branch: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA
Army Component:
Source Reference: Civil Life
Serial Number: 16065351
Affiliate Publication Title: Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946
Affiliate ARC Identifier: 1263923
Box Film Number: 02142.71
------
US Army WORLD WAR II
Passenger Private, Emmett Brighton MIA/KIA
Coast Artilery CORPS
Hometown: Detroit, Michigan
Ship: USAT Dorchester
Service # 16065351
Awards: Purple Heart, American Campaign Medal, European - African Campaign Medal
Captain: Captain Preston S. Krecker MIA/KIA

Mission: US Navy Convoy SG-19
Mission Date: 3-Feb-43
Location: off the coast of Greenland
Cause: Torpedo attack from U-223
Crew: On Board 902 · Saved 230 · Lost 672

Private Brighton appears Tablets of the Missing East Coast Memorial New York City he was lost Feb. 3rd 1943 officially declared killed Feb. 4th 1944. He has a cenotaph memorial Franklin Township Cemetery Tipton Lenawee County Michigan.

3 Feb. 1943, about 100 miles from Narsarssuak Greenland on a cold, moonless, starless night... At 00:55 a torpedo hit Dorchester's starboard side, just forward of her beam. The power and lights went out immediately. The Dorchester, listing to starboard, was able to get out six blasts on the fog horn, and had started another six blasts, when the steam ran out. Many of the troops, ordered to sleep with their lifebelts on, didn't do so because of the heat trapped within the ship's hull from her boilers. They came up to the deck to find stark contrast.
According to survivor accounts, commanding officer Captain Preston S. Krecker assisted his men in abandoning ship, and went down with the ship in so doing.

Dorchester is best remembered today for the story of the Four Chaplains who went down with her. The four chaplains found a deck box full of lifebelts and together started assisting the men who were without into the belts and overboard. Soon the box was empty. The chaplains, one by one removed their own lifebelts and gave them to men who had none. The Chaplains locked arms, sang and prayed for the men as the Dorchester sank with them on board. All four perished with the ship. In 1948 the US Postal Service issued a stamp to commemorate the sinking.

The S.S. Dorchester was one of three identical ships built in 1926 for the Merchants and Miners Transportation Company. In February 1942, the S.S. Dorchester entered the war effort as the United States Army Transport (U.S.A.T.) Dorchester. The Dorchester's master, Capt. L B Kendrick, continued on during the first five voyages to Greenland in 1942. After the fifth voyage he retired and master Danielson came aboard for his first and last voyage. Captain Krecker was the commanding officer while Lt. Arpaia was the commander of the Naval Armed Guard. Also aboard were four Army Chaplains, Father John Washington (Catholic), Reverend Clark Poling (Dutch Reformed), Rabbi Alexander Goode (Jewish) and Rev. George Fox (Methodist).

Visit the virtual cemetery of USAT Dorchester Crew at http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=vcsr&GSvcid=436200


Inscription

IN MEMORY OF
EMMETT J. BRIGHTON
PVT US ARMY
WORLD WAR II
PURPLE HEART



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