Description
WWI Merchant Capt SS Aztec Torpedoed U46 USN LCDR USS Sudbury & WW2 USMS Captain
Wonderful Original WWI Merchant Captain of The SS Aztec Torpedoed by U46, USN LCDR USS Sudbury, & WW2 USMS Captain – Exceptional Estate Attributed Collection of Walter K. O’Brien (b. 15 Feb 1886 – d. 14 Nov 1982) who was a Master Mariner prior to the United States entry into WWI and was Captain of the SS Aztec Merchant Ship that was torpedoed by German U-Boat 46 off the NW Coast of France on April 1, 1917. This event was relayed to the US Congress as part of their deliberations to back President Wilson and Declare War April 4, 1917. Captain O’Brien was deposed about the event (see reference below), subsequently he was Conferred a Navy Commission to the Rank of Lieutenant Commander and was given Command of the USS Sudbury (see history below), after WWI Capt. O’Brien went back to Merchant Fleet work and ultimately served in WWII with the USMS United States Maritime Service Merchant Marines as a Captain. “He Served 30 Years in The Merchant Marines and Captained Ships during WWI and WWII” (see obituary) This unique grouping has Lieutenant Commander O’Brien’s WWI Navy Service Visor Hat by ‘Sam Fitz’ with Initials WKO to the interior leather sweatband, WWII USMS Captain’s Service Visor Hat Band with Gold Bullion Embroidered Insignia, and his WWII USMS Merchant Marine Captain’s Service Blue Uniform with Four Ribbons: Merchant Marine Combat Bar with Star, Atlantic War Zone, Mediterranean Middle East War Zone, and Pacific War Zone Medals. An Extraordinary History of a Captain who was Directly Involved in WWI & WWII. Good Issued Condition as Photographed with wear, crazing to the hat visor, light moth tracking to the top, and one side of the chinstrap pinned (missing button) as seen; interestingly while the two collector tags state Walter K. O’Brien and there is a WKO to the interior of the service visor – none of his documents nor headstones make mention of a middle name or initial – An Exceptional Addition to Any Advanced Collection – Rare – Warrants Further Research
Photos 12 – 24 (Reference Only)
13.) SS Aztec Cargo Ship
14.) Emergency Passport Application of Capt. Walter O’Brien
15.) Passport Photograph – US Embassy Paris
16.) Submarine Warfare: Ambassador Sharp to Secretary of State April 4, 1917 Deposition of Captain O’Brien about the torpedoing of SS Aztec
17.) USS Sudbury
18.) US Coast Guard Record Lieutenant Commander Rank Conferred and Command of USS Sudbury
19.) Navy Roster 1918
20.) Navy Roster Dec 30 1918
21.) U46 after being surrendered to the Imperial Japanese Navy with the IJN Flag flying above but conning tower still painted U46
22.) Obituary of Capt. Walter O’Brien
23.) Private Headstone of Capt. Walter O’ Brien
24.) Military Headstone Walter O’Brien LCDR US Navy 1886 – 1982
History SS Aztec
SS Aztec was built in 1894 by Edwards & Sons Shipbuilding Co in Howdon-On-Tyone at the request of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company. She ran regular routes between San Francisco, Honolulu, and Shanghai. She departed New York City in March 1917 with a cargo of copper, steel, lumber, machinery and chemicals bound for the port of Le Havre. On 1 April 1917 she was torpedoed off the coast of Ushant in France by the German Uboat SM U-46. 28 passengers were killed, including 10 American crew members. News of her sinking was relayed to Washington by the American embassy in Paris on 2 April, followed by a secondary report on the sinking on 4 April. The news of the torpedoing of the Aztec was passed on to the United States Congress as deliberations were ongoing as to the declaration for war on Germany, as President Woodrow Wilson had asked congress to declare war on Germany on 2 April
To commemorate the centennial of Aztec’s sinking, the Hawaii World War I Centennial Task Force held a ceremony for the lost crew of the ship on 3 April 2017 (wiki
History USS Sudbury
USS Sudbury (ID-2149) was the cargo ship Sudbury under construction for the Shawmut Steamship Company that was taken over by the United States Navy on completion and in commission from 1918 to 1919. After naval service the ship was returned to Shawmut and operated by that company until its merger with companies that included the American Ship and Commerce Navigation Company and operated by that company until 1927. The ship was acquired by the Munson Steamship Line and operated by that company until sold to Cia Genovese di Nav a Vapori SA, Genoa, Italy and renamed Capo Alba.
The ship was in the Atlantic in 1941, taking refuge in the Canary Islands. The ship, along with a tanker, escaped Tenerife 1 April 1941 to the continent and was taken over by Germany 8 September 1943. Capo Alba was damaged by bombing at Nantes March 1944 and scuttled there 18 August 1944. The hulk was raised and broken up in 1946.
