Fred was the son of Alta Rose (Greenwood) and John Ernest Shaver of Bellaire and Shadyside, Ohio, and joined the US Naval Reserve, serial #6147404.
He was declared Missing in Action on 2 Feb 1943, according to the Zanesville (Ohio) Times Recorder, 3 Feb 1943. From the State Summary of War Casualties from World War II, Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel, Record Group 24; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD, Ohio volume, page 37:
"SHAVER, Frederick James, Seaman 2c, USNR. Father, Mr. John Ernest Shaver, 3253 Hamilton St, Bellaire [Ohio]."
The American Battle Monuments Commission's World War II Listing confirms this information and says that he received a Purple Heart.
Patrician O'Neal has provided more information about Fred's death:
Seaman 2nd Class FREDERICK J. Shaver, a US Navy Armed Guard, was assigned to the SS James McKay. He was on board when the ship left Newfoundland on Dec 2, 1942, bound for Belfast Ireland. On Dec 3rd the ship joined Convoy HX-217, but on the 6th fell back for unknown reasons. In the early hours of Dec 8th, about 425 miles south of Iceland, James McKay was hit by three torpedoes fired from German submarine U-600. The first hit was amidships under the stack and the two others hit behind, causing the ship to immediately stop. Distress signals were sent and the crew abandoned ship in two lifeboats. The ship was hit again, from the opposite side, causing an explosion that threw water 300 feet into the air. The ship was still afloat, but about 15 minutes later there were two more heavy explosions on the ship itself, causing it to sink.
Nothing was ever found of the men or the lifeboats. There were 48 Merchant Mariners and 14 Navy Armed Guards on board; none survived.
Burial:
Body lost at sea
Specifically: Seaman Shaver was on James McKay when the ship was torpedoed and sunk by U-600
He was declared Missing in Action on 2 Feb 1943, according to the Zanesville (Ohio) Times Recorder, 3 Feb 1943. From the State Summary of War Casualties from World War II, Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel, Record Group 24; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD, Ohio volume, page 37:
"SHAVER, Frederick James, Seaman 2c, USNR. Father, Mr. John Ernest Shaver, 3253 Hamilton St, Bellaire [Ohio]."
The American Battle Monuments Commission's World War II Listing confirms this information and says that he received a Purple Heart.
Patrician O'Neal has provided more information about Fred's death:
Seaman 2nd Class FREDERICK J. Shaver, a US Navy Armed Guard, was assigned to the SS James McKay. He was on board when the ship left Newfoundland on Dec 2, 1942, bound for Belfast Ireland. On Dec 3rd the ship joined Convoy HX-217, but on the 6th fell back for unknown reasons. In the early hours of Dec 8th, about 425 miles south of Iceland, James McKay was hit by three torpedoes fired from German submarine U-600. The first hit was amidships under the stack and the two others hit behind, causing the ship to immediately stop. Distress signals were sent and the crew abandoned ship in two lifeboats. The ship was hit again, from the opposite side, causing an explosion that threw water 300 feet into the air. The ship was still afloat, but about 15 minutes later there were two more heavy explosions on the ship itself, causing it to sink.
Nothing was ever found of the men or the lifeboats. There were 48 Merchant Mariners and 14 Navy Armed Guards on board; none survived.
Burial:
Body lost at sea
Specifically: Seaman Shaver was on James McKay when the ship was torpedoed and sunk by U-600
Fred was the son of Alta Rose (Greenwood) and John Ernest Shaver of Bellaire and Shadyside, Ohio, and joined the US Naval Reserve, serial #6147404.
He was declared Missing in Action on 2 Feb 1943, according to the Zanesville (Ohio) Times Recorder, 3 Feb 1943. From the State Summary of War Casualties from World War II, Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel, Record Group 24; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD, Ohio volume, page 37:
"SHAVER, Frederick James, Seaman 2c, USNR. Father, Mr. John Ernest Shaver, 3253 Hamilton St, Bellaire [Ohio]."
The American Battle Monuments Commission's World War II Listing confirms this information and says that he received a Purple Heart.
Patrician O'Neal has provided more information about Fred's death:
Seaman 2nd Class FREDERICK J. Shaver, a US Navy Armed Guard, was assigned to the SS James McKay. He was on board when the ship left Newfoundland on Dec 2, 1942, bound for Belfast Ireland. On Dec 3rd the ship joined Convoy HX-217, but on the 6th fell back for unknown reasons. In the early hours of Dec 8th, about 425 miles south of Iceland, James McKay was hit by three torpedoes fired from German submarine U-600. The first hit was amidships under the stack and the two others hit behind, causing the ship to immediately stop. Distress signals were sent and the crew abandoned ship in two lifeboats. The ship was hit again, from the opposite side, causing an explosion that threw water 300 feet into the air. The ship was still afloat, but about 15 minutes later there were two more heavy explosions on the ship itself, causing it to sink.
Nothing was ever found of the men or the lifeboats. There were 48 Merchant Mariners and 14 Navy Armed Guards on board; none survived.
Burial:
Body lost at sea
Specifically: Seaman Shaver was on James McKay when the ship was torpedoed and sunk by U-600
He was declared Missing in Action on 2 Feb 1943, according to the Zanesville (Ohio) Times Recorder, 3 Feb 1943. From the State Summary of War Casualties from World War II, Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel, Record Group 24; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD, Ohio volume, page 37:
"SHAVER, Frederick James, Seaman 2c, USNR. Father, Mr. John Ernest Shaver, 3253 Hamilton St, Bellaire [Ohio]."
The American Battle Monuments Commission's World War II Listing confirms this information and says that he received a Purple Heart.
Patrician O'Neal has provided more information about Fred's death:
Seaman 2nd Class FREDERICK J. Shaver, a US Navy Armed Guard, was assigned to the SS James McKay. He was on board when the ship left Newfoundland on Dec 2, 1942, bound for Belfast Ireland. On Dec 3rd the ship joined Convoy HX-217, but on the 6th fell back for unknown reasons. In the early hours of Dec 8th, about 425 miles south of Iceland, James McKay was hit by three torpedoes fired from German submarine U-600. The first hit was amidships under the stack and the two others hit behind, causing the ship to immediately stop. Distress signals were sent and the crew abandoned ship in two lifeboats. The ship was hit again, from the opposite side, causing an explosion that threw water 300 feet into the air. The ship was still afloat, but about 15 minutes later there were two more heavy explosions on the ship itself, causing it to sink.
Nothing was ever found of the men or the lifeboats. There were 48 Merchant Mariners and 14 Navy Armed Guards on board; none survived.
Burial:
Body lost at sea
Specifically: Seaman Shaver was on James McKay when the ship was torpedoed and sunk by U-600
Inscription
SHAVER FREDERICK J SEAMAN 2 C USNR OHIO
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