Assembled here are collections of eyewitness stories of men who were on board the Mallory on her final trip across the Atlantic. These stories have been shared with me personally by the survivors or by the survivors and victims families. These stories are very valuable for us to read as they give the readers a feeling of how it really was during those dark and uncertain times of WWII when the balance of power was still teetering from one side to the other. There were some significant things about the Mallory sinking. It was one of the biggest convoy battles of the war, the loss of lives was one of the largest of any ship sinking, and it happened during what the German U-boat commanders called "The Happy Times", when they enjoyed many successes against Allied convoys. This also happened before the turning point which came in June of 1944, after the capture of the German U-boat U-505, along with her precious enigma coding machines. And so here is one of the untold and largely unknown but heroic stories of the battle of the Atlantic.

If you have a family member or know of someone who was on the USS Henry R. Mallory please e-mail me and I will add that mans story with his shipmates.

These stories of the survivors and victoms are divided into 4 sections. The Stories of the Marines, The Stories of the Navy, The Stories of the Army and the Stories of the Merchant Marines.

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Stories from the Marines in Hold No. 3

Hold No. 3 took a direct hit and the Marines suffered a great loss of life and in fact only 19 Marines escaped that day and were saved. The 19 Marines were:

Marvin E. Muehl Joseph J. Biedenbach John Tokarchick, Jr. Clair R. Stratton Carl D. Miller Charles T. Calhoun Stanley A. Pasinski John E. Stott Ralph C. Welliver, Jr. John Behun

George G. Miller Paul Cernansky Nicolas J. Yannuzzi Chester S. Penko Adolph C. Mattes Joseph J. Bucheck Joseph I. McMillen Emil S. Ellefsen Henry F "Pop" Filippone

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Marvin E. Muehl, USMC
"I remember the explosion and the feeling"

Joseph I. McMillen, USMC "my wristwatch was stopped at 4:00 o'clock" By survivor, Joseph I. McMillen, from Hold No. 3 USMCR, Service Number 479147 Mr. McMillen contacted me about my Henry R. Mallory web page two days before the 60th anniversary of the sinking, on February 5, 2003 and he wanted to know why he was not listed as a survivor. I had asked him if he would share his experiences with me so I could add this to the Mallory's web page. This is his story:

"Go Down Like Marines" Torpedoed Men Urged Four Pittsburgh District Corps Members Recall Tragic Sinking In North Atlantic This was a wartime newspaper article written in the Pittsburgh Press. A torpedo slammed into their ship before dawn of an icy North Atlantic morning. Half stunned, they scrambled out on deck and struggled in the darkness to launch a lifeboat. Through the confusion cut the voice of a Marine corporal, "Remember, you guys, you're Marines. If we go down, we go down like Marines." That scene is indelible in the memories of four Marines from the Pittsburgh district, for they participated in it, and in an agonizing eight hours on the open sea before they were picked up. The men were: Pvt. John Behun, 347 Renova St. Pittsburgh; Pvt. Joseph J. Biedenach, 339 Renova St., Pittsburgh; Joseph I. McMillen, 24 E. Grant St., Huston; and Stanley Pasinski, 528 Vermont St., Glassport. Sinking Cost 850 The torpedoing was that tragic one of last February in which 850 lost their lives as two ships went down in the frigid seas. The four Pittsburgh district Marines recently told their story to Sgt. Francis J. Acosta, Jr., a Marine Corps Combat Correspondent, at an overseas base. Pvt. Pasinski said, "The torpedo must have knocked me out, because I came to with a gash on my head. I don't remember anything except climbing up through the hatch." Pvt. Behun was one of the first men out on deck. He found that one of the two lifeboats assigned to the Marines had been blown to pieces by the explosion. In the darkness and weather it took about 15 minutes to get one end of the cable cut and the other boat over the side. Then, with the boat half full of men, they discovered that it was filling rapidly. Jump Back On Deck "Lots of us jumped back on the ship when the waves would lift us close to the deck," Pvt. Behun said. "But then another lifeboat that had been launched up forward came floating by in the water, so with Biedenach and some others I jumped over into it." Pvt. McMillen jumped from the sinking boat to a raft, which rapidly became crowded. "Once during the night I fell out, but a sailor pulled me back on," the Huston Marine related, "He and I helped each other stay balanced all night. When it got light I counted 22 men on that small raft. Two of them had died during the night. "All of the time the raft rode about a foot under water, with so many men aboard, and the flurries of rain and sleet were almost continuous." Transfer Boats Pvt. Pasinski had gotten into the boat that Pvts. Behun and Biedenach later boarded. "There must have been 50 or 60 of us in the boat," he said. "We were so overcrowded that the boat was low in the water, and waves kept washing in and filling up the boat even more." "But," he added, "during the morning another lifeboat came alongside with only 20 men in it, so we caught onto it and about 15 of us jumped over into that one." By 10 a.m. the men from both lifeboats had been picked up by an escort vessel, and about noon the heavily laden raft was picked up.

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Private Finn's brother Kevin J. Finn, wrote this poem in his Memory. It was published in one of the New York newspapers at the time. This copy shown at the right came from the collection of items from Pvt. Buono profiled below. To My Brother Little Brother, think of me From your grave beneath the sea Pray for us with crosses deep Strengthen us who mournful weep Little Brother, let us pray That God will grant us meet someday That I may clasp a Hero's hand In the great eternal land Little Brother, how I miss Those bygone days of boyish bliss I hope you died without much pain I pray you haven't died in Vain

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Pvt. Joseph Alfred Buono, USMCR Service No. 502019

“Nothing else remains except family photos & memories of this brave young hero and an uncle I never knew.”

Pvt. Joseph Alfred Buono, USMCR 30 September 1942- 7 February 1943 August 20, 1943 Dear Miss Buono, I remember your brother's name, but not his face. You see, when we were aboard ship and were attacked, I was fortunate to be above decks while most of the marines were below sleeping. The way I understood it after all survivors were rescued and told their story, almost all the marines had got out of the hold and into a lifeboat or on a raft. Mrs. Finn's son who was my buddy was below deck. I looked for him after we were hit but couldn't find him in the commotion and panic. I can't furnish any information about your brother except what you already know. I can't help or hinder your hopes but I can say, I pray to God that there is some more marines alive. Sympathetically Yours Emil S. Ellefsen USMC Marine Barracks Navy No. 101

Joseph Alfred Buono, Jr. was born on September 30, 1924 in Westerly, Rhode Island. His parents were Mary and Joseph Buono, Sr. Joseph Jr. was the first child born to Mary and Joseph Sr. and they would also have a daughter named Esther. Joseph Sr. was born in Italy and became a naturalized citizen in 1920. In April of 1930 the Buono family lived in Brooklyn, New York in a rented home located at 22 Union Street. The Monthly rent Joseph, Sr. paid was thirty-dollars and as noted on the Federal Census the family did not have a radio set in the home, so luxuries at the time were kept to only the basics. Joseph, Sr. worked as a baker in a bread making plant. His wife Mary worked as a packer in a tin factory. Family remembrances recalled by Frank L. Punturieri, Joseph Alfred Buono’s nephew tell that he was an average boy, athletic and a good basketball player. Joseph Jr. was also a hard worker and in 1942, he worked down at the docks in New York and was working on the ship the SS Normandie, while being converted to a troopship during World War II, the Normandie caught fire, capsized, and sank. Joseph was nearly killed in the disaster. Joseph wanted to join the Marines when he was 17 but his parents would not sign the papers to allow him to join. However, he turned 18 in September 1942 and he enlisted into the Marine Corps on November 13, 1942 in New York and was sent to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina to boot camp. Right from boot camp he was shipped off on the USS Henry R. Mallory destination Marine Detachment, Naval Operation Base Reykjavik, Iceland for training for the Normandy invasion. When Joseph left in November 1943 for training he never returned home again except for some letters he sent home, that are now treasured by his family; his belongings shipped home from boot camp when they shipped out and a Purple Heart Award post-mortem.  When the Mallory was sunk his body was never retrieved and was reported missing. His family was notified and as per law was classified as officially presumed dead, 8 February 1944, one year and a day after the sinking of the Mallory. Pvt. Buono has been memorialized at the Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England, which is his only grave marker being lost at sea. Frank Punturieri, the son of Esther (Buono) Punturieri, Joseph’s sister relates of his uncle, “Nothing else remains except family photos and memories of this brave young hero and an uncle I never knew.” Pvt. Buono sister had written to another of her brothers fellow Marines inquiring about the events of his death. She was answered by Pvt. Emil S. Ellefsen who was on board the Mallory with Bono and also was a buddy to Pvt. Martin C. Finn, who's story appears above. Buono and Finn were also good friends as in Buono's personel effects was a photo of Martin Finn taken at Paris Island. Below is the transcribbed letter from Ellefsen written on August 20, 1943 while Ellefsen was stationed in the Marine Barracks, Reykjavik, Iceland. The notation he made at the bottom of the letter "Navy No. 101" was the navy designation for the post office in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Certificate issued to the family of Pvt. Buono from President Franklin D. Roosevelt, one year and a day after the sinking of the Mallory.	Pvt. Buono on the training course at Paris Island.
This photo was in the possession of Pvt. Buono's personal effects from Paris Island. It is believed to be Pvt. Martin C. Finn.	Pvt. Buono on the training course at Paris Island.
The Purple Heart issued to the family of Pvt. Buono	The reverse side of the Purple Heart
WWII Victory Medal issued to the family of Pvt. Buono	Reverse side of the WWII Victory Medal

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Emil S. Ellefsen, USMC, Mallory Surivor

"...I can't help or hinder your hopes but I can say, I pray to God that there is some more marines alive."

Emil S. Ellefsen is known to be a survivor of the sinking of the Mallory on February 7, 1943 as he was contacted by the sister of fellow marine, Pvt. Joseph Buono asking for information on the death of her brother, Joseph Buono. On August 20, 1943 while Ellefsen was stationed at Marine Barracks, Reykjavik, Iceland. Ellefsen wrote to Joseph Buono's sister and told her what he knew of the death of her brother. This letter is still among the treasured possessions of the family of Pvt. Buono. In the letter he also makes reference to Mrs. Finn's son, which would be another fellow marine named Pvt. Martin C. Finn, who was killed along with Buono that morning on February 7th. Ellefsen also wrote a letter to the family of Pvt. Martin Finn but this letter has not survived to this day. It is assumed that Emil Ellefsen's rank was that of a Private.

Emil was born on Spetember 11, 1924 in New York to Emil Sr., and Anna Ellefsen. The elder ellefsen's were of Norwegian heritage. Emil Sr. worked as a Policeman possibly for an express agency and Anna was a telephone operator. In 1930 when young Emil jr., was five-years old the family lived in Brooklyn, New York. The only other fact known of Emil Ellefsen, a surivor of the sinking of the Mallory is that he passed away in October of 1974.

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Ralph C. Welliver, USMC, Survivor of the Sinking

Among the marines on board the Mallory was a young 23-year old by the name of Ralph Carman Welliver, Jr. He was born on 21 May 1921 in New Jersey to Ralph C. Welliver, Sr. and Charlotte M. Welliver.

Ralph Welliver, Jr. can trace his roots back to his grandfather Elmer W. Welliver who was born in March of 1872 in Pennsylvania, and his grandmother Jessie who was born in January of 1874 also in Pennsylvania. Elmer was a laborer in a railroad car shop located in Columbia County, Pennsylvania. Elmer and Jessie’s first child was a son named Ralph Carman Welliver born on April 24th of 1899. Ralph would one day marry and have a family and his wife’s name was Charlotte. She was born about 1895 in Germany and together she and Ralph would start a family of their own. Their first child was born on 21 May 1921 and they named him Ralph Carman Welliver, Jr. At the time the family lived in Trenton, New Jersey where Ralph Sr. worked as Postal Clerk and Charlotte was working as a stenographer.

Prior to WWII Ralph Jr. was working as an actor in the New York area. But as American men were joining the armed services of the United States due to America’s entry into WWII, so would Ralph Jr. join the armed forces. Ralph C. Welliver, Jr. enlisted into the United States Marine Corps and when ordered for overseas duty he found himself sailing the waters of the Atlantic bound for Iceland with the rest of the marines on board the troopship USS Henry R. Mallory.

The torpedo struck the Mallory at the worst possible place for the marines. It was the hold that they were quartered in and most of the marines were killed or sustained severe injuries that dark cold morning of February 7, 1943. According to Ralph Jr.’s son Peter Welliver, Ralph did not talk much of the events of the sinking of the Mallory, likely as it held too many bad memories. So we will never know for sure what Ralph was doing that morning or how he was saved. But the fact is that Ralph got off the ship and was lucky enough to get to a lifeboat and was rescued by the USCGC Bibb. Ralph did sustain injuries from the sinking but he recovered from them.

After the war and Ralph was discharged from the Marine Corps and moved back to the New Jersey area where he met his wife during the 1950’s. She was from Sweden and they later moved to Sweden where they would life for the rest of their lives. Ralph Carman Welliver, Jr. passed away on September 25, 2002 and was a US Citizen until his death. This was known as the United States Consulate Office in Stockholm, Sweden recorded his death.

Chester S. Penko, USMC Survivor of the Sinking

One of the few Marines who survived the sinking of the USS Henry R. Mallory on February 7, 1943 was Chester S. Penko. His roots begin in the Anthracite Coal producing hills of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Born on April 26, 1922 likely in or near the Pennsylvania towns of Plymouth and Hunlock Creek nestled along the Susquehanna River, Chester was the son of Michael and Francis Penko. His father Michael Penko was born in Russia and had come to America in 1910 and worked as a coal Miner in the many coalmines in Luzerne County. It was in Luzerne County in 1919 that the great Baltimore Colliery explosion occurred and killed 92 miners. The Penko family would be a coal mining family for many years.

Chester's mother was Francis Penko and she was born in Poland and had come to America about 1911. She had been married previously as her former married name was Prusiewicz and she had 3 sons by that first marriage. They were Charles, Stanley and Bernard. Charles being the eldest and he was born in Poland and came over with his mother Francis. Stanley and Bernard were born in Pennsylvania.

Then when Michael and Francis married they had 4 sons, Lenord, Chester, Edmund and Henley. In April of 1930 the Penko family lived the Hunlock Creek Road between the towns of Hunlock Creek and Plymouth, Pennsylvania. Both were snuggled along side of the wandering Susquehanna River just south west of Wilkes-Barre. The home the family lived in was owned by the Penko's and valued at $3,600. Michael the father, his stepson Charles who was 22-years old at the time and three boarders, Eward, Anthony and Peter Konieczko all worked in the coalmines.

When Chester S. Penko turned 18-years of age he may have felt that he did not want to spend the rest of his life working the coal mines of Luzerne, County and turned his thoughts to a life in the United States Marine Corps. We will never know how he thought of this as it was before the events of Pearl Harbor and it may have been a Marine Recruiter who got Chester to join the Corps but for whatever reason he did he was on July 24, 1940 at the Recruiting Station located in the Customs House in Philadelphia. That same month Recruit Penko was taken to Parris Island, South Carolina where his journey to becoming a marine began. He spent from July through September 1940 there before being sent as a Private to the Guard Company, Marine Barracks at Quantico, Virginia. Private Penko would serve there until Christmas time of 1940. He took leave from December 19-26 and likely went back to Luzerne County to see the family.

His likely path after December 1940 was back to Quantico and then just before the end of the year of 1942 he would have been at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in a Marine Detachment being formed up to be sent to Iceland. In the last week of January 1943 Private Chester Penko would have walked up the gangway to the deck of the transport USS Henry R. Mallory bound for Iceland. As his boots touched the deck of the Mallory he could not have known what would befall him in the coming days. I'm sure he felt that the Mallory was a good sturdy ship and would deliver him and his fellow marines to their intended destination. But the fact of the matter was that he would not make it to Iceland, or at least he would not make it there aboard the Mallory. The Marines were bunked down in Hold No. 3 of the Mallory. Fate would deal the marines a horrible blow because Hold No. 3 was the site of the German torpedo impact that would send the Mallory and many of his fellow Marines to death. Only a few of the Marines would survive the sinking and Private Penko somehow was among the living and the end of the day on February 7 of 1943.

It is not known if Penko was injured in any way from the sinking and he would have been picked up out of the icy angry waters of the Atlantic by the Coast Guard Cutter Bibb with many of the men from the Mallory. After nearly a week at sea on the Bibb, Captain Raney landed the men from the Mallory back to solid ground on Iceland. They had made it to Iceland; just not in the way they ever intended to get there. Private Penko may have had thoughts at that time that life in the coalmines was not so bad after all.

Penko's travels after being landed on Iceland after the rescue are not known but he did survive the rest of the war and eventually returned to his civilian life. When he was discharged from the Marine Corps his rating was Staff Sergeant. It is known that in 1947 Chester Penko was living at 137 Rugby Street in Providence, Rhode Island, which was a few blocks just off from Providence Harbor. It is likely that he was not married at that time as in the 1947 Providence City Directory only his name is listed.

At some point in his life Chester S. Penko married as from information from his gravestone is his wife's name, "Maria K. Penko Born July 22, 1919, Death March 6, 1999, Wife of Chester S. Penko." Chester Penko passed away on August 6, 1972 and was buried in Section 1C, Row 9, Site 1 in Arlington National Cemetery. On his stone it states  "SSGT US Marine Corps" He and his wife lay resting peacefully next to each other there in Arlington.

Corporal Henry F. "Pop" Filippone, Survivor

Henry F. Filippone was another of the Marine Survivors from Hold No. 3 on the USS Henry R. Mallory as she slipped from the surface of the cold dark Atlantic on February 7, 1943. To the men in his Marine Detachment he was known as “Pop” due to the fact that he was some eight or so years older than the rest of the marines.

Henry F. Filippone was the son of Enrico and Francesca (Guarino) Filippone. Henry’s father Enrico was born in the area of San Marino, Italy on January 25, 1887. He had come to America in about 1902 and settled in Boston, Massachusetts. Enrico was known as Henry Carmino Filippone while he lived in the United States. Henry Carmino did not receive his Naturalization certificate until September 28, 1931 and at that time he lived at 187 Bennington Street in East Boston.

Henry Carmino Filippone met Francesca Guarino who was born in Boston about 1890, and fell in love where they married about 1909. Henry Carmino was a shoemaker by trade and likely learned it in Italy. During WWI at the age of 30-years, he registered for the Federal Draft and was then working as a shoemaker for the Thomas & Groker Shoe Company in Roxbury Crossing. He was married and had 2 children at that time.

Henry Carmino and Francesca had their first child a son named Andrew who was born about 1914 in Boston. Another son followed this, on September 11, 1915 when Henry F. Filippone was born. The family lived in 1930 in a rented apartment house at 253 Bennington Street that was owned by R. Scarpa and his wife Rose, both of whom were from Italy. Henry Carmino was still working as a shoemaker and his wife Francesca was working as a shipper in a candy factory. The eldest son Andrew was also working and may have been working in the same candy factory as his mother Francesca.

Henry F. grew up a typical “Boston Kid” and on December 7, 1941 like many other “Boston Kids” heard the call of duty and joined the military. Henry F. joined the United States Marine Corps and was sent to Paris Island for training. In late December 1942 Henry “Pop” Filippone who was by then a Corporal was sent to the Brooklyn Navy Yard where a Detachment was forming for duty in Iceland. Corporal Filippone went aboard the USS Henry R. Mallory an event that would change his life forever in just a few days time.

Henry “Pop” Filippone later in life was not very talkative about the events of the sinking of the Mallory but one of his sons Ed does recall his father telling this story. On the evening of February 6, the evening of the sinking, “Pop” was down by the galley of the Mallory and noticed a fresh baked blueberry pie one of the cooks had set out to cool. When “Pop” enquired about the possibility of getting a piece the cook informed him that the pie was destined for the officers and was off limits. “Pop” was not going to get a piece of pie that evening and tried to put it out of his mind. Later that evening the image of the pie was getting to “Pop” and early in the morning he dressed and started up from Hold No. 3 where the marines were berthed to the Galley to see about that pie. As “Pop” was climbing up a ladder the German Torpedo slammed into the side of the Mallory mortally wounding her and killing many of his fellow marines at the same time.

“Pop” made his way to one of the crate type rafts somehow in the confusion and got off the quickly sinking Mallory. As it turned out the same cook that told “Pop” the Blueberry pie was off limits was also on the same crate type raft as “Pop” and he could not decide if he should punch the cook or thank him for saving his life. If it were not for the image of the pie “Pop” would have still been in his skivvies in his bunk sleeping in Hold No. 3 and likely killed.

After a few hours, the heroic efforts of the Captain and crew of the Coast Guard Combat Cutter Bibb rescued “Pop” and the cook from the sea. Captain Raney had defied a direct order and put the Bibb in harms way to rescue the men from the Mallory. Safe aboard the Bibb they spent another week at sea chasing German U-boats before they were landed on Iceland. After a few months the survivors from the Mallory were sent separate ways and Corporal Henry “Pop” Filippone was sent to the Pacific where he finished out the remainder of the war. The only story the family remembers about “Pop’s” experiences on the island hopping campaigns was that he found the cannibalized remains of some Japanese soldiers in a cave once.

After the war ended “Pop” Filippone, who had survived a sinking and the bloody island war in the Pacific returned to his home in the Boston area. He would marry a woman named Rita and together they would raise 5 children. Ironically Henry Filippone made a living working as a cook at the Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford, Massachusetts. “Pop” could finally get that piece of Blueberry pie anytime he wanted. One of Henry’s sons Lenny remembers that his father's Italian Sauce was great. Henry also worked at a local newspaper and bar tended before finally retiring in the 1980’s.

At the end of his life Henry F. Filippone lived in Peabody, Massachusetts and passed away on April 12, 1995.

Private First Class Henry F. Filippone, taken shortly before sailing on the USS Henry R. Mallory	Another undated photo of Filippone likely taken after basic training as he is shown as a Private because he has no Private First Class stripe in his shoulder.

Private Nicolas J. Yannuzzi, USMC Survivor

Nicolas J. Yannuzzi was one of the Marines aboard the Henry R. Mallory who survived the sinking on February 7, 1943. It is almost certain that Nicolas J. Yannuzzi was the son of Pasqual and Rose Yannuzzi of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

It is known that Nicolas J. Yannuzzi survived the sinking as his name is listed among the survivors from a newspaper clipping from fellow Marine Joseph I. McMillen. In a newspaper clipping from McMillen there were several Pittsburgh area boys who had joined the Marine Corps and were aboard the Mallory when she was sunk and Yannuzzi’s name was listed. This is the only reference to him known.

In researching who Nicolas J. Yannuzzi was there are 3 Nicolas or Nicholas Yannuzzi’s listed in the 1930 Federal Census that would be of the correct age. They are (1) Nicolas Yannuzzi born to Pasqual and Rose in 1921 from Philadelphia (2) Nicolas Yannuzzi born on January 29, 1925. He was a Catholic also from Philadelphia and enlisted into the Army and was Killed in Action on February 6, 1944. (3) Nicholas John Yannuzzi born on July 14, 1924. He was also a Marine and was also stationed in Iceland for a time. But this is not the correct man.

Being that the second man was in the Army and Killed in 1944 and the third Yannuzzi was positively identified as not the correct man it is assumed that the first Nicolas Yannuzzi is the correct Marine who was aboard the Mallory and survived.

Nicolas J. Yannuzzi was the second son of Pasqual and Rose Yannuzzi and he was born in 1921. Pasqual was born in Italy about 1893 and had immigrated to the States about 1909. He worked in April of 1930 as a plumber and owned the home he raised his family in, which was valued at $4,000 in Philadelphia. Rose his wife was born about 1897 in Italy and had immigrated about 1905. Pasqual and Rose where married about 1915 and their first child as son named Michael was born about 1919. The second child was Nicolas J. born in 1921 followed by Anna in 1922 and Joseph in 1925 and lastly Anthony in 1927. Nothing more is known about Nicolas J. Yannuzzi the Marine who survived the sinking of the Mallory in 1943.

© 2005-20011 Joe Hartwell. This page was first up-loaded on 2 February 2006 and last modified on: 4/19/11