Today marks the 80th anniversary of one of the worst marine disasters the province has ever seen. The supply ship USS Pollux and destroyer USS Truxtun ran aground on the rocks at Chambers Cove on the Burin Peninsula in the midst of a blinding snowstorm on the morning of February 18, 1942.
Heavy seas battered the ships, breaking them apart. 204 U.S naval officers and crew lost their lives.
The news that still resonates today, however, is the fact that 186 men survived, thanks to the amazing courage of the residents of St. Lawrence and Lawn who learned of the unfolding disaster and ran to the scene with ropes and whatever else they could find to make their way down the 200 foot cliffs and pull survivors to safety.
A memorial service is planned for this afternoon at 4:00 at the Roman Catholic Church in St. Lawrence.
Paul Lambe of the St. Lawrence Historical Society and Gus Etchegary, the last know surviving rescuer, will join VOCM’s Linda Swain on On Target this afternoon at 1:00 to talk about the disaster and the extraordinary efforts of local residents.
