Carl William Brewster
Crawford County, Pennsylvania
World War II Hero
Mother Told That Missing Son Is Dead

Pvt. Carl W. Brewster Lost His Life When Transport Was Sunk

INDUCTED APRIL, 1943 Mrs. Lucilla A. Brewster of 407 West Central avenue has been notified by the War Department that her son, Pvt. Carl William Brewster, previously reported as missing, has been ascertained be dead as a "result of the sinking of a troop transport at sea by the enemy."
On December 28, 1943, Mrs. Brewster received a telegram that her son was missing in action and some weeks later it was ascertained that he was missing as a result of the sinking of a transport in which many others lost their lives. It was generally assumed that Pvt. Brewster was dead, but the War Department did not give up hope, apparently. At least, not until May 16 did it notify Mrs. Brewster that her son was now regarded as dead. She received that word while visiting another son Pfc. James N. Brewster, a military policeman, in Philadelphia. She made the news public upon arriving home yesterday.
Born at East Titusville Pvt. Brewster was born Jan. 28, 1925 in East Titusville and attended the public schools until his second year in High school, when he was inducted April 3, 1943. He received basic training at Fort Eustis, Va., was transferred to an Army engineer aviation battalion, and went overseas in the autumn of last year. He was in Africa and it is presumed was being sent to Italy when the sinking occurred.
His father, Joseph Brewster, died in 1935. Besides his mother, he leaves three brothers, Robert Brewster of 53 West Spring street, John Brewster of 405 South Franklin street, and James in Philadelphia; two sisters, Mrs. Ida Baron of Corry and Mrs. Harry L. Crawford of 416 Chestnut street. Another brother died in 1937.
Titusville Herald, May 25, 1944. This was the sinking of the British troop ship HMT Rohna by the Germans. Of the 1,138 men lost, 1,015 were American. The attack still constitutes the largest loss of U.S. troops at sea in a single incident. A further 35 American troops of the 2,000 originally on board later died of wounds.

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