Johnny W. Brown, born in Georgetown, SC on February 21, 1967, was lost at sea on April 2, 2005 while working as a commercial fisherman on the Tracie Lynn. The Tracie Lynn was hit by a rogue wave approximately 30 feet tall during a heavy storm off the shore of North Carolina. Two of the crew members were rescued. Johnny was never seen again.
Wright Sparks Skinner, Jr., born in Georgetown, SC on March 28, 1929, was lost at sea on February 13, 1988 while working as a harbor pilot in Georgetown. Wright had taken the merchant ship, Tropical Sky, out of the channel to the sea buoy. As he transferred to the pilot boat, Wright went overboard and was never seen again.
Shaun R. Eckert, born in Indiana on April 29, 1964, was lost at sea on April 14, 2005 when returning from fishing offshore from Sebastian Inlet, Florida. Shaun had been fishing with his two brothers when the boat encountered mechanical problems and sank. His brother, Michael, survived, but Shaun and his brother, Jay, were never found.
Peter M. Thomas, born in Georgetown, SC on November 26, 1972, was lost at sea on December 7, 1996. Pete, a member of the Winyah Rescue Squad, went out on his first search and rescue flight as a spotter on that stormy afternoon to help locate a stranded boater. Upon completing the mission, Pete and the pilot, David Hodge, set out to return home, trying to outrun the severe weather. The Cessna disappeared from the radar screen early that evening. The wreckage was located near Capers Island in Charleston County, but Pete was never found.
David L. Hodge, born in Georgetown, SC on November 22, 1957, was lost at sea on December 7, 1996. David, a veteran pilot with the Winyah Rescue Squad, flew out on a search and rescue mission with his colleague Pete Thomas. After helping locate a stranded boater, David steered the plane towards home to beat the stormy weather. The Cessna disappeared from the radar screen early that evening. The wreckage was located near Capers Island in Charleston County, but David was never found.
Ernest Lee Turner, born in Florence, SC on June 7, 1962, was lost at sea on or about April 13, 1998 while working as a commercial fisherman on the Melissa Lee, a Murrells Inlet fishing boat. It is believed the craft ran into heavy weather somewhere off the North Carolina Coast. Ernest, his three fellow crew members and the boat wreckage have never been found.
David L. Goins, born in Georgetown, SC on May 17, 1951, was lost at sea on or about April 13, 1998 while working as Captain on the Melissa Lee, a Murrells Inlet fishing boat. It is believed the craft ran into heavy weather somewhere off the North Carolina Coast. David, his three fellow crew members and the boat wreckage have never been found.
Stacey L. Chancey, born in Florence, SC on November 6, 1963, was lost at sea on May 4, 1984 while working as a commercial fisherman on the Can Do. Chancey and three crew members abandoned the vessel when it began taking on water off Savannah Beach, GA. One of the crew members was rescued. Stacey and two other crew members were never recovered.
Verlon J. Anderson, born in Jacksonville, FL, on June 17, 1953, was lost at sea on February 14, 2005 while working as a commercial fisherman on the Can Do II. Verlon reportedly fell overboard from the vessel off the coast of South Carolina. A fellow crew member was unable to rescue the unconscious Anderson. Verlon drifted away from the vessel into the darkness. Verlon’s body was never found.
David A. Wasel, born in New Britain, CT, on July 20, 1941, was lost at sea while serving in the US Navy aboard the nuclear submarine, USS Thresher SSN-593. The Thresher, once the pride of the Navy, sank during routine maneuvers, taking with it the 129 men aboard. David never was seen again after the mysterious sinking.
Zachary Scott Schafer, born in Indianapolis, IN, on April 16, 1971, was lost at sea on January 25, 2004, when the sport fishing boat, Physical Therapy, sank offshore from Moorhead City, North Carolina. Zach, captain of the 54’ Hatteras, together with his friend, was transporting the boat from Charleston, SC to Moorhead City, NC. Unable to launch the life raft, they jumped into the ocean and floated for three hours awaiting rescue. Zach’s friend was rescued. Zach was never seen again.
Robert Larse Bergholm, born in Greenville, SC, on October 21, 1957, was lost at sea in December 1993 while working as a commercial fisherman on the Partner’s Pride. When Robert’s three-crew boat failed to make a scheduled communication, the Coast Guard launched a search mission. A crew member’s body and remains from the boat were found off the coast of Florida in the Gulf of Mexico. It is likely the boat capsized during a heavy storm. Robert was never found.
Henry Iseman Harrelson, born in Georgetown, SC, on April 4, 1896 and brother to Samuel Mertimer Harrelson and Olin Beckman Harrelson, was lost at sea on June 17, 1942, while serving as Lt. Commander on the SS Millinocket in the Caribbean Sea. The Millinocket, a merchant freighter ship, was torpedoed during World War II. Eight crew members and three armed guards were lost. Henry was never found.
Samuel Mertimer Harrelson, born in Georgetown, SC and brother to Henry Iseman Harrelson and Olin Beckman Harrelson, was lost at sea on December 1, 1925 while aboard the steam ship, Cotopaxi, which disappeared in the Devil’s Triangle.
Olin Beckman Harrelson, born in Georgetown, SC on September 26, 1903, and brother to Henry Iseman Harrelson and Samuel Mertimer Harrelson, was lost at on December 1, 1925 while aboard the steam ship, Cotopaxi, which disappeared in the Devils’ Triangle.
John Henry Smalls, Sr., born in Georgetown, SC in 1919, was lost at sea on October 24, 1957 while working on the small shrimp boat, the Lottie C. The Lottie C sank off the jetties in Winyah Bay. Cause of the sinking is unknown. One crew member’s body surfaced ten days later. John was never recovered.
Dan Jenkins, born in Georgetown, SC in 1914, was lost at sea on October 24, 1957 while working on the small shrimp boat, the Lottie C. The Lottie C sank off the jetties in Winyah Bay. Cause of the sinking is unknown. One crew member’s body surfaced ten days later. Dan was never recovered.
George Harrison Cooper, born in Myrtle Beach, SC on August 16, 1934, was lost at sea on November 8, 1978 in a plane crash over the ocean approximately two miles offshore from Parramore Island. George and three friends were heading to Delaware on a hunting trip when the pilot reported an instrument problem. Within eight miles of making an emergency landing, radar contact was lost. The wreckage was found, but George was never seen again.
Michael A. Hendrix, born in North Charleston, SC on November 10, 1950, was lost at sea in December of 1979. Michael was aboard the Ranger IV, a 40ft. long-liner when it was lost without explanation in the Gulf Stream.
George C. Ellis, born September 19, 1889 lost at sea November 5, 1938. George was the assistant lighthouse keeper at the Georgetown Lighthouse Station on North Island. George and the lighthouse keeper traveled the Winyah Bay often to Charleston for supplies. On one of these many trips their boat blew up in the Winyah Bay. The keeper survived but George was lost. The reason for the explosion was never determined.
Aaron Dale Erwin, was born January 11, 1960 in Allegan, Michigan. At the time of his loss he resided in Florence, SC. He departed East Bay Park in Georgetown, SC on a 21 ft. sailboat for a weekend fishing trip on Dec 2, 1994. He was never seen again.
Robert “Bobby” Vaughan Clarke, Jr., was born November 12, 1931 in Florence, SC. He was lost at sea on May, 18, 2006. Bobby was the captain of a charter boat the Super Suds II and was on a chartered trip 12 miles off the coast of Murrells Inlet, SC. The boat was capsized while returning to the marina and all seven men aboard were thrown overboard. Bobby and his mate Wayne Smith were instrumental in saving the five customers aboard, before Bobby was lost.
Peter L. Bacuinka, born in May of 1898 and lost on September 8, 1926 off the southeastern coast of the US. Peter was a wireless operator on the “SS Haleakala.” His ship was lost during one of the most intense hurricanes in history. There were a total of 35 men onboard and they have never been found.
John W. Kneidl, born in Dayton, Ohio on January 26, 1926 and lost at sea on May 5, 1945. John was a Motor Machinist's Mate Third Class aboard the USS Lagarto, a US Navy submarine.. The USS Largarto was lost in the Gulf of Siam while carrying out orders in enemy controlled waters during WWII.
Daniel James Phalen, was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico on April 10, 1978 and lost at sea on November 2, 2007. Daniel and his brother Bill were aboard a recreational fishing vessel about 10 miles off the coast of Murrells Inlet, S.C. The boat began taking on water and suffered electrical problems. Unable to get back to shore the boat kept drifting and eventually flipped over. The brothers held onto the vessel as long as they could but sadly were separated during the night. Dan's brother Bill was found floating 11 miles off shore however, Dan was never found.
M/Sgt. Charles Benjamin Causey, Sr., born August 1, 1902 in Conway, S.C. Mr. Causey was a Master Sergeant in the United States Air Force during WWII. He spent 3 years as a prisoner of war in a Japan prison camp. He was being transported along with other POW's on a Japanese freighter, the "Arisan Maru." The freighter was torpedoed by an American submarine. Mr. Causey was lost at sea on October, 24, 1944 along with a reported 1795 others on board.
Melvin Wayne Hobbs, born March 3, 1930 in Atchison, Kansas. Mr. Hobbs left port in Georgetown, S.C. on the "Loraine", a 45ft. shrimp trawler. It is estimated that Mr. Hobbs was lost at sea on October 16, 1970. Parts of the boat were recovered but sadly not Mr. Hobbs.
James Heyward Oliver, born November 11, 1932 in Chesterfield County, S.C. Mr. Oliver left port in Georgetown, S.C. on the "Loraine", a 45ft. shrimp trawler. It is estimated that Mr. Hobbs was lost at sea on October 16, 1970. Parts of the boat were recovered but sadly not Mr. Oliver.
Mark Allan Shackelford, born January 12, 1959 in Jacksonville, FL. Mark had been a commercial fisherman since 1980. On April 29, 2010 Mark was the Captain of Lady Di out of Murrells Inlet, SC when the Coast Guard received a distress call. The Lady Di was 10 miles southeast of Murrells Inlet, SC when a crew member stated he woke up to find Capt. Shackelford missing. The Coast Guard searched a 679 square mile area but Capt. Shackelford was never found.
Sgt Kurtis R. Hutchison, born February 8, 1987 in Pittsburgh, PA. On April 21, 2013 Kurtis was celebrating a friend's birthday in Little River, SC in the area of Bird Island. He was struck by a commercial fishing vessel while swimming in the water to retrieve a friend's boat that had begun to drift away. Kurtis was proud to serve as a Sergeant in the US Army.
Hugh “Golden” Hughes, Jr., born January 29, 1924 in Johnsonville, SC. Mr. Hughes was serving on the aircraft carrier the USS Enterprise CV-6 in the Pacific Theater. On November 14
th, 1942 during the battle of Guadacanal in the Solomon Islands, Mr. Hughes’ plane was shot down after being heavily attacked by enemy fire.