Carson Luther Ricks was born around 1921 in Alabama.
Resided at Barry County in Michigan at the time of his enlistment on 21 September 1942.
Pvt Ricks was lost in the sinking of the SS Dorchester.
Memorialized at the East Coast Memorial, New York, NY
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.
- Rank: Private
- Date of death: 3 February 1943
- County: Meigs
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: SS Dorchester
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Purple Heart, American Campaign Medal, European, African Campaign Medal
- Burial/Memorial Location: East Coast Memorial, New York, New York
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XVI, Top Panel
- Contact us to sponsor Carson L. Ricks
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