Herb Braxton, USMC, Survivor

“We saw a ship coming at us suddenly and it kept coming,” Marine Corps Corporal Herb Braxton told the Associated Press in 1977. “People started to yell, ‘Dammit, watch out,’ but the ship kept coming…The bump didn’t do much damage but the ship just kept on coming into us and that’s what turned us over.”

Braxton, of Camden, N.J., was one of 124 Sailors and Marines from the USS Guam and USS Trenton aboard a liberty boat on January 17, 1977, when it collided with a freighter in the Barcelona harbor.

Forty-nine servicemen lost their lives in the accident. Braxton was one of 75 survivors. Other shipmates in the area witnessed the tragic accident or assisted in the subsequent rescue and recovery operations.

 

Richard Felzien, USN, Survivor

“It was a nightmare but there was not any real panic except for a couple of guys,” survivor Richard Felzien of Norflolk, VA, a 1st class petty officer, told the Associated Press in 1977.

Felzien was one of 124 Sailors and Marines from the USS Guam and USS Trenton aboard a liberty boat on January 17, 1977, when it collided with a freighter in the Barcelona harbor. Forty-nine servicemen lost their lives in the accident.

 

Gold Star Next-of-Kin pins

If you lost a family member on 17 January 1977, you are eligible for a Gold Star Next-of-Kin pin.

Here’s a link for more information on the program:  http://www.navygoldstar.com/

Contact us to reach a Gold Star coordinator or go to the website.

OSC Rodney Lee Wolfe, USN

Remembering OSC Rodney Lee Wolfe (USN, USS Trenton), who lost his life on active duty, 17 January 1977, in Barcelona, when the liberty boat (LCM-6) he was on struck a freighter and capsized.  He was 33 years old.

OSC Wolfe was born on August 5, 1943, in Artesia, California, to Raymond E. and Lucy (Burnett) Wolfe. He was 17 when he enlisted in the Navy on June 19, 1961. Wolfe was survived by his wife, Adelaida, and two daughters, Sheree Lynn and Danette Marie.  He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery (Section 60, Site 1120).

 

RM2 James O’Neil Wines

Remembering RM2 James O’Neil Wines (USN, USS Trenton), who lost his life on active duty, 17 January 1977, in Barcelona, when the liberty boat (LCM-6) he was on struck a freighter and capsized.

RM2 Wines was born on August 25, 1948, in South Carolina. He enlisted in the Navy on June 22, 1968. Wines was survived by his wife Janice.  He is buried at Greenlawn Memorial Garden, Spartanburg (Spartanburg County), South Carolina.

ESTN Dennis Allen Williamson, USN

In remembrance of ETSN Dennis Allen Williamson (USN, USS Trenton), who lost his life on active duty, 17 January 1977, in Barcelona, when the liberty boat (LCM-6) he was on struck a freighter and capsized.

ETSN Williamson was born on January 15, 1955, in Amery Polk, Wisconsin. He enlisted in the Navy on August 12, 1974. He died two days after his 22nd birthday. ETSN Williamson was laid to rest in Bunyan Union Cemetery, Bunyan, Polk County, Wisconsin.

CPL Ignatius Dominic Thomas, USMC

Remembering CPL Ignatius Dominic Thomas (USMC, H&S CO BLT 1/6, USS Trenton), who lost his life on active duty, 17 January 1977, in Barcelona, when the liberty boat (LCM-6) he was on struck a freighter and capsized.

CPL Thomas was born on February 1, 1955, in St. David’s, Grenada. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on August 25, 1975. He died two weeks before his 22nd birthday, and was laid to rest in Long Island National Cemetery, Suffolk County, Farmingdale, New York.

PFC Redford Swain, USMC

In honor of PFC Redford Swain (USMC, LSU-34, USS Trenton), who lost his life on active duty, 17 January 1977, in Barcelona, when the liberty boat (LCM-6) he was on struck a freighter and capsized.

PFC Swain was born on January 14, 1953, in Newville, Alabama. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on September 25, 1974. PFC Swain died three days after his 24th birthday.

PFC Clarence R. Staten, USMC

Remembering PFC Clarence R. Staten (USMC, CO A BLT 1/6, USS Guam), who lost his life on active duty, 17 January 1977, in Barcelona, when the liberty boat (LCM-6) he was on struck a freighter and capsized.

PFC Staten was born in 1959, and lived in Norfolk, Virginia. He died at age 17. PFC Staten was laid to rest in Calvary Cemetery, Norfolk City, Virginia.

PFC Alfonso Stallworth, USMC

In memory of PFC Alfonso Stallworth (USMC, LSU-34, USS Trenton), who lost his life on active duty, 17 January 1977, in Barcelona, when the liberty boat (LCM-6) he was on struck a freighter and capsized.

PFC Stallworth was born on May 18, 1958, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on January 26, 1976, one year before the tragedy at Barcelona. He was 18 when he died.