1921-1942

CADET BUD BOURELL LOST IN SERVICE FOR COUNTRY - Mr. and Mrs. Claude Bourell of Olney received the following telegram last Friday evening from the Navy Department:

"The Navy Department deeply regrets to inform you that your son, Randall Price Bourell is missing and presumed to be lost, following action in the performance of his duty and in the service of his country. The Coast Guard appreciates your great anxiety and will furnish you further information promptly when received. To prevent possible aid to our enemies, please do not divulge the name of his ship".

Bud has been in the U.S. Merchant Marine since last summer and was making his second trip across when his ship was apparently sunk. However, due to the fact that every precaution is taken in such an instance, considerable hope is hold that he was or will be rescued at sea. His location on the trip was unknown and the hundreds of Olney citizens shocked at the word last Friday are hoping with his parents that he will be rescued."

Bud is one of Olney's finest young men and while in high school was a great athletic star, especially in football, being captain of the team in 1939. It may be some time before his fate is definitely known but we are all hoping with his father, mother and sister that he will be safely rescued.

Published in Olney Daily Mail (IL)

On March 2, 1943, Deck Cadet, Randall Price Bourell aboard the freighter, SS Meriwether Lewis,  enroute from New York to the UK to Russia with a cargo of ammunition and tires, was straggling behind Convoy HX-227 in the North Atlantic.

German submarine U-759 attacked the ship but had to quit due to engine problems. Before it quit, however, the sub led U-Boat 634 to the freighter. U-634 fired a spread of four torpedoes, one hit in the forward part of the ship. After three hours and more hits, and the ammunition blowing up in the forward part of the ship, the Meriwether Lewis sank bow first. A Coast Guard cutter searching the area for survivors found a 30 mile trail of automobile tires. There were 44 Merchant Mariners and 32 Naval personnel on board; none survived.  The body of Deck Cadet Randall Price Bourell was lost at sea.

The SS Meriwether Lewis was a Liberty Ship built in 1942; her homeport was Portland, Oregon.