17 January 1977 – Barcelona Harbor

monument detail

Shortly before 2:00 am on January 17, 1977, a U.S. Navy LCM-6 liberty boat embarked from the foot of the Muella de Barcelona (Pier of Barcelona), carrying 124 Sailors and Marines back to the USS Guam LPH-9 and the USS Trenton LPD-14.

Minutes after launching the LCM-6 rounded the end of the pier and made a wide turn directly into the path of the Spanish merchant ship Urlea. The Urlea struck the liberty boat on the starboard side amidships causing it to capsize and throwing all passengers and crew into the icy harbor waters.

Many of the men were trapped under the overturned LCM-6. Some were able to climb on top of the boat or swim to the shore.

Almost immediately Spanish tugs and fishing vessels got underway and began picking up survivors. The Barcelona fire department and ambulances were on the scene within minutes. Divers from the fire department, the Spanish Navy, and a local diving club volunteered their aid in the recovery effort.

The final body was recovered on February 2, 1977, bringing the total number of dead to 49.

Memorial services were held on the USS Guam LPH‑9 shortly after the accident. One year later in a solemn ceremony conducted by the Barcelona Council of the U.S. Navy League, a 12‑foot granite and iron memorial was installed on the Muelle de Barcelona and dedicated to those who lost their lives. In 1998 the monument was rededicated in a formal ceremony when it was moved to its current location on the Moll de les Drassanes, making way for construction of Barcelona’s World Trade Center.

Author: ussguamtrenton1977

I was a Lance Corporal (CO A BLT 1/6, USMC, USS Guam) onboard an LCM-6 liberty boat on 17 January 1977, when it was hit by a freighter and capsized in the harbor at Barcelona. Nearly 40 years have passed since then, but I've never forgotten that night and the men who lost their lives.----Please contact me if you have information about any survivors or their families and especially any next-of-kin to those who perished.

20 thoughts on “17 January 1977 – Barcelona Harbor”

  1. My husband was stationed on the USS Trenton at that time. He had traded duty Day with another sailor or he would have been on the liberty boat. I was at my home state of West Virginia with our 2 year old son, listening to news reports and not knowing for 3 days if I was a widow or I would be able to greet him when the 6 month Med cruise was complete.
    He was a fuels specialist, I cannot remember the Navy rank but his name was John Sayre, Jr.

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    1. Hi, Nancy –

      Thanks for sharing your story. Those must have been very long days for you. The accident changed lives forever in a split second. We’re having a reunion and memorial service in September on the 20 & 21 in Virginia Beach at the chapel on JEB Little Creek-Fort Story. I hope you and your husband will consider joining us.

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      1. My brother Thomas J Short was on the USS Guam as well and was involved in this accident. We had lost our father 11 years before and my mother was a widow trying to raise 8 children herself. It was a nightmare watching the news casts about this incident at 17 years old and trying to keep my mother and younger brothers from falling apart until the Marine Corps sent someone to the house to let us know that he was okay by delivering a Western Union from him directly to us. It was scary watching that uniformed Marine heading up the sidewalk as usually only means one. Thank God it wasn’t to let us know that he was killed. Thank you for sharing this story as my brother has been very ill and talks about this often. Thank you for your Service and God Bless.

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    2. I was a 19 year old Marine Corporal AH-1J Aviation Ordnanceman on the USS Guam. Then Senator Biden told my family I was one of the missing. Later found out my fiancée, parents, brothers & their wives waited at my parents for word. Thank you ‘Joe’ useless Biden…I was safe on board the Guam.

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    3. As a Cobra ordnanceman our squadron offered to drop flares that night, but were denied. I stayed aboard that night because the Guam was to dock the next day. Riding the liberty boat was wet & cold for I believe a 20 minute ride ashore. HMM-264 on the USS Guam LPH-9.

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      1. I cannot fathom WHY your offer to drop flares during such an URGENT situation – was denied. WHO denied that offer? And, if you don’t mind, kindly share any initial (or subsequent) thoughts/experiences that ‘rubbed you wrong’ about such an offer having been denied at all.

        Now that we know what we know – for example, that ‘stand down orders’ were given during the murderous mayhem at BENGHAZI – this is a fair question, I think. Don’t you?

        I thank you for your service to this Country. And my heart is heavy for what you experienced as a result.

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      2. There was an Oil Refinery at the pier, so no flares were allowed, afraid of a massive fire. Ron, been looking for you for a long time. Lets get together. Remember the car that blew the transmission???

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      3. My dear friend was one of the marine soldiers that was killed on this ship. But I cannot find his name anywhere. Can someone help me? His name was, “Junior Bulkcom.”

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      4. Hi, Ruby – thanks for posting and for thinking of Junior Balkcom. Yes, sadly he lost his life in the accident. Junior’s name is the 4th one on the memorial in Barcelona. We also have an entry for him on this site. Search for his name.

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  2. I was on permanent shore patrol from “The Guam” that night, and I got off the LCM before it departed on it’s last trip. It was not just a long night, but a long week. I can now say that my Oldest son (by 20 minites)served on the Eisenhower, and now my younger son is serving on “The Boxer”. As far as I am concerned they are not just my Legacy, but the Legacy of “The 49” that lost their lives that day.

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    1. Thank you Jose for your comments and for reaching out to the group! It is a honor to hear that you son’s are serving and taking up the mantle of their dad! I memory of our brothers that lost their lives that night we thank them!

      I was with A Co BLT 1/6 stationed on the USS Guam and I was on that “Mike” boat that night and was one of the survivors.
      We also have a FaceBook page that can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/ussguamtrenton1977

      Harry (Lamar) Thomas

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  3. I was an Aviation boatswains mate station on the USS Guam I was aboard the liberty launch that dreadful night. I was one of the lucky ones but lost some close friends it’s still hard to think about it.

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  4. My family has always told me stories of my “Uncle Tink” whose real name was Charles Baldwin, they only knew that he died in an accident in Spain, and really never knew enough information to find out exactly where/when/how he died. Thank you for compiling this information. My mom and all of her siblings keep a picture of him in uniform and they really had no idea there was even a memorial in Spain for all of the people who perished.

    Thank you.

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    1. Hi, Tyronne – thank you for sharing about your uncle. So many lives were changed on that day. We would be happy to add your uncle’s picture to this site. If you would like more information please email us.

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  5. Hi My uncle Alfonso Stallworth lost his life that day. I never had a chance to meet him because I wasn’t born until 1971. However, my father had his picture hanging on his wall in his home until he died. I just found your article and some recent information regarding my uncle. If you have any additional information regarding that day I would love to share it with my aunt his sister. Sadly she is the only living sibling my uncle has left. My uncle information is as follow:
    Alfonso Stallworth
    Name: Alfonso Stallworth
    Rank: Private First Class
    Unit: U.S.S. Trenton
    Date of Death: 1977-01-17

    PFC Stallworth was assigned in LSU-34, USS Trenton. He died on January 17, 1977, at the age of 18, in the Liberty launch boat (LCM-6) accident as he was aboard. Their boat struck a freighter and capsized during the USS Trenton and USS Guam visitation in Barcelona, Spain.
    His current burial is unknown.

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  6. I was stationed on the USS Guam. We were Headquarters 34th MAU. I was asleep when the accident happened and was woke up by marines in our quarters checking lists looking for missing persons. I when up to the com center and was awake the next 24 hours trying to locate the missing and sending telegrams home that we were alive ( I have the telegram. My dad saved it. ). I seem to remember a lot more than 49 dead. Maybe my memory is playing tricks but I believe it was closer to 219 dead. The launch was over loaded, it was cold and many of us wore our boots and winter coats to liberty which would make it harder to swim. It was also the first night of liberty and there’s an unwritten rule “never go out the first night of liberty”. Other than this I liked Barcelona, Spain. Even after the riots we got caught up in. Interesting times. Corporal Watson Headquarters 34th MAU Com Platoon.

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