Somerdale, N.J. War Memorial

Situated on the grounds of the Raws-Tait VFW Post #7334, Kennedy Boulevard and Somerdale Road, in Somerdale, N.J., this monument honors the two fallen heroes for whom the post is named: William Raws and William Tait. William Tait is also memorialized on the Hollingshead Employees Monument, originally in Camden, N.J., that now is at Newton Lake Park in Haddon Township, N.J.

Six men from Camden, N.J. — Frank Ballerino, Michael Carr, Michael Yachus, Stephen V. Koscianski, Lewis Riondino, and Joseph H. Johnson — died together when the troop transport HMTS Rohna was struck by a German guided glider bomb and sank off the coast of North Africa. In addition, six other Camden County men — Jacob K. Jenkins and Carl Johanson of Pennsauken, 19-year-old Harry V. Taylor Jr. of Haddonfield, William McKeon of Blackwood, Merl Reagle of Lindenwold, and Elmer F. Day of Merchantville — were also lost that day. In total, 1,015 men were lost, but the story was never told to the families or the general public for over 57 years due to wartime censorship.

The Rohna Disaster — Camden County Internet War Memorial

The Rohna Survivors Memorial Association

MSNBC Coverage — Tom Brokaw

Camden County, N.J. Monuments & War Memorials — Visit web-pages on these memorials, and virtual memorials to Camden County’s fallen heroes.