Joseph "Joe" Roseman

Joseph "Joe" Irwin Roseman was born in Balicze, Podrozne, Poland, being a part of Austria-Hungary at the time, on December 10, 1910 to his mother Elizabeth Zuckerman Roseman (1890-Unknown) and his father Samuel Roseman (1883-Unknown). Joe was one of four siblings consisting of three brothers and one sister with one of which being his twin brother Carl Roseman (Unknown-Unknown). Joe lived in Balicze, Podrozne, Poland with his family until at the age of 3 years old he left with his family for Rotterdam, Holland from where they then emigrated to the United States landing in New York, New York on June 29, 1913 aboard the S.S. Campanello under the name Josef Rosenman. As of 1920, Joe and his family were then living in Akron, Ohio where he lived with his family until at least 1930 where he worked as a rubber worker. In 1936 Joe married his first wife, Wilma Irene Angstadt Roseman (10/3/1909-1/2/2003) at the age of 26 years old. Together they had one daughter, Janice Rosella Roseman Hall (2/20/1937-5/23/2019). As of 1940, Joe continued to live with his family in Akron, Ohio now with the family of his wife, Wilma where he now owned a local bar named the Luneb Counter and worked at other numerous local bars as a bartender. On October 16, 1940 Joe registered himself with the selective service board in Akron Ohio following which he eventually was enlisted and served as a Third Class Petty Officer in the United States Navy acting as a Boatswain's Mate on the USS Yorktown (CV-5) for an unknown period of time. As of 1950, Joe continued to live in Akron, Ohio and continued serving as a bartender now within in his own household and separated from his first wife, Wilma, as she remarries on June 5, 1950 to her second husband. Joe continued living in Akron, Ohio as a single man continuing his work as a bartender until he marries his second wife Marie Catherine Marunich Roseman (2/17/1920-4/12/1988) on July 3, 1963 at the age of 52 and then became the step-father of her two daughters Jackie (Mike) Sonderman and Geri (Monte) Ridenhour. Joe lived in Akron, Ohio for the rest of his life where in his later years he became very popular in the community acting as a popular bartender and host at the Bubble Bar, Yanko's at Highland Square, Themeley's, and R.J.'s. In the mean time Joe also owned and often operated the Neuburrow Club and was active in local golfing and bowling leagues. Joe Roseman passed away on January 18, 2003 and was laid to rest in Holy Cross Cemetery in Akron, Ohio where he remains today.

Navy Service Number: Unknown

Enlistment Rating: Seaman

Final Rating: Third Class Petty Officer Boatswain's Mate (Info)

Unit(s): USS Yorktown (CV-5)

Date of Selective Service Registration: 10/16/1940

Date of Enlistment: Unknown

Date of Discharge: Unknown

Awards: Unknown

Notes of Importance: N/A

The USS Yorktown (CV-5) was a United States Navy aircraft carrier that served during World War II. It was the lead ship of the Yorktown-class aircraft carriers, and was named after the Battle of Yorktown in the American Revolutionary War. The Yorktown was commissioned in April of 1936, and was the first of its class to be completed.

The Yorktown was initially assigned to the Pacific Fleet, and was used for training exercises and fleet maneuvers. In 1937, it was sent to the Atlantic to participate in the Neutrality Patrols. During this time, the Yorktown was involved in the search for the German battleship Bismarck. In 1940, the Yorktown was sent to the Pacific, and was involved in the Battle of the Coral Sea in May of 1942. During this battle, the Yorktown was damaged by Japanese aircraft, but was able to return to Pearl Harbor for repairs.

In June of 1942, the Yorktown was sent to the Battle of Midway, where it was sunk by Japanese aircraft. Despite its loss, the Yorktown was credited with helping to turn the tide of the battle in favor of the United States. After the battle, the Yorktown was replaced by the USS Hornet (CV-8). By the end of the ships service, the ship had been awarded the American Defense Service Medal with fleet clasp, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three campaign stars, and the World War II Victory Medal.

The Yorktown was the first of its class to be sunk in World War II, and its loss was a major blow to the United States Navy. The Yorktown was later honored with a memorial at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. The memorial is dedicated to the crew of the Yorktown, and serves as a reminder of their sacrifice and courage.

Sources: Wikipedia & NavSource.org

As stated above, Joe and his family crossed the Atlantic at the age of 3 years old when he left his childhood home in Austria-Hungary with his family for Rotterdam, Holland from where they then emigrated to the United States landing in New York, New York on June 29, 1913 aboard the S.S. Campanello. Although that is where Joe's story with the ship ended the story of the ship is actually quite interesting. Completed on August 29,1901 by the company British Shipowners Limited "she was christened the British Empire and given the official number 115224". In 1906 she was then sold to the Italian company Navigazione General Italiana and had a name change to the Campania. "On March 17, 1907, she commenced the first of many round trip voyages; Genoa – Naples - Palermo – New York" and in 1910 was sold again to the company The Canadian Northern Steamship Company. This company had also just purchased the Uranium Steamship Company which was known for transporting new immigrant from Europe to the United States and the ship was added to their fleet but due to the fact that the Cunard Steamship Company vessel SS Campania was named the same and often landed in New York that they renamed the ship to the S.S. Campanello. It was until 1913 when Joseph and his family crossed Atlantic aboard the ship that it concluded it's service as a civilian ship when it was called up for war service with the Canadian government in 1914 and continued to serve as such for the next two years until 1916 when it was sold to the Cunard Steamship Company and renamed now to the S.S. Flavia. It was for the rest of the war until "about 5 am on the morning of 24th of August, 1918" when the ship was "en route from Montreal to Avonmouth in the Bristol Channel. She was 30 miles northwest of Tory Island, off the coast of Donegal, Ireland when without warning, she was torpedoed by the German submarine U 107 commanded by Captain Kurt Siewert and sent to the bottom with the loss of a single life. She lies there to this day at a depth of 105 metres. Although the official records show one fatality; there is an account from a survivor which suggests that in fact, 374 souls were lost that morning." However, what makes this story particularly interesting is the ships relation to the sinking of the famous R.M.S. Titanic.

Campanello's Connection to the R.M.S. Titanic

 "During the two official inquiries into the loss of the new White Star liner, it was revealed that while Titanic was struggling for her life – while her lifeboats were being made ready and while they were being launched – a vessel was seen approaching her position from almost right ahead. This vessel remained in the vicinity for at least two hours before disappearing from sight ... Because of highly publicised eye-witnesses accounts and press articles regarding the incident, the authorities could not ignore it. So they set about establishing an identity for the vessel in question. They didn't spend too much time over their search and settled for the most convenient candidate. ...the Leyland Liner SS Californian ... The SS Californian under the command of Captain Stanley Lord had been heading west at the time of the Titanic disaster, but an hour and a half before Titanic hit the iceberg, Californian had been stopped by an ice barrier. The distress position transmitted by Titanic was some 19.5 miles to the south-southwest of where Californian was stopped. However, in their evidence, Californian's officers reported seeing rocket signals to the south-southeast of their location - not to the south-southwest! Despite this glaring discrepancy and other contrary evidence, the British Wreck Commissioner found: "When she first saw the rockets the "Californian" could have pushed through the ice to the open water without any serious risk and so have come to the assistance of the "Titanic." Had she done so she might have saved many if not all of the lives that were lost."" The source provided for all of the quoted material in this section of the post enters a further analysis of evidence and conclusion to explain this so please make sure to check it out.

Source: Encylopedia-Titanica.org

Image sourced from Pages 14-18 Forum