John Preedom was an Army stevedore assigned to the 231st Port Company. He along with others from his company were onboard the USS Serpens when it exploded January 29, 1945.
A stevedore is a person who loads and unloads cargo. At the time of the explosion 350 lbs. of depth charges were being loaded onboard about 1 mile off Lunga Point, Guadalcanal. Guadalcanal is part of the Solomon Islands located in the South Pacific and played a key role in WWII.
Follow the links provided to read more detailed information about the ship, the people onboard, their journeys, and the Monument at Arlington Cemetery.
Here is a photo of the USS Serpens. This ship orginally was being built for commercial use, but during World War II it became a cargo ship AK-97, then an ammunition ship.
Photo from Michael Zumbach Commemorative Website
Below is the Monument at Arlington Cemetery in Washington DC
