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Brothers of Briar

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Thistleoak

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November 10th 1975 "The Pride of the American Side" The Edmund Fitzgerald got caught in a white squall not unlike the one we experience here in my neck of the woods yesterday.  Us Michiganders take our maritime history seriously ( Navy Flake will back me on this one)

Out of Respect so they may not be forgotten, here is a list of the men on The Edmund Fitzgerald that lost their lives when she went down to her watery mausoleum.


Michael E. Armagost
37
Third Mate
Iron River, Wisconsin

Fred J. Beetcher
56
Porter
Superior, Wisconsin

Thomas D. Bentsen
23
Oiler
St. Joseph, Michigan

Edward F. Bindon
47
First Asst. Engineer
Fairport Harbor, Ohio

Thomas D. Borgeson
41
Maintenance Man
Duluth, Minnesota

Oliver J. Champeau
41
Third Asst. Engineer
Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin

Nolan S. Church
55
Porter
Silver Bay, Minnesota

Ransom E. Cundy
53
Watchman
Superior, Wisconsin

Thomas E. Edwards
50
Second Asst. Engineer
Oregon, Ohio

Russell G. Haskell
40
Second Asst. Engineer
Millbury, Ohio

George J. Holl
60
Chief Engineer
Cabot, Pennsylvania

Bruce L. Hudson
22
Deck Hand
North Olmsted, Ohio

Allen G. Kalmon
43
Second Cook
Washburn, Wisconsin

Gordon F. MacLellan
30
Wiper
Clearwater, Florida

Joseph W. Mazes
59
Special Maintenance Man
Ashland, Wisconsin

John H. McCarthy
62
First Mate
Bay Village, Ohio

Ernest M. McSorley
63
Captain
Toledo, Ohio

Eugene W. O'Brien
50
Wheelsman
Toledo, Ohio

Karl A. Peckol
20
Watchman
Ashtabula, Ohio

John J. Poviach
59
Wheelsman
Bradenton, Florida

James A. Pratt
44
Second Mate
Lakewood, Ohio

Robert C. Rafferty
62
Steward
Toledo, Ohio

Paul M. Riippa
22
Deck Hand
Ashtabula, Ohio

John D. Simmons
63
Wheelsman
Ashland, Wisconsin

William J. Spengler
59
Watchman
Toledo, Ohio

Mark A. Thomas
21
Deck Hand
Richmond Heights, Ohio

Ralph G. Walton
58
Oiler
Fremont, Ohio

David E. Weiss
22
Cadet
Agoura, California

Blaine H. Wilhelm
52
Oiler
Moquah, Wisconsin

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Being born in Ontonagon, raised in the Porkies, and worked on Isle Royal, that's my home territory. My advisor and mentor at UW-Milwaukee, Dr. Harold Mayor, was on the Coast Guard Review Board that spent over a year looking at the disaster. He taught a graduate level, Transportation Geography of the Great Lakes the following year and I was his GA.

I still get a chill down my back when I hear that song, hauntingly beautiful yet tragic.

Natch
 
Thanks for reminding us of those lost on that night. We certainly do take our Maritime history serious here in Michigan. I've been on the world's Oceans before and I can tell you this, the Superior can be compared to the Atlantic Ocean when conditions are right (or wrong in this case).

Rest in Peace dear souls of the E.F.
 
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