Hidden History Series: The Forgotten Shipwreck of the SS Joseph M. Cudahy
Storage Choice
August 27th, 2025
The Gulf Coast is rich with stories—some celebrated, others long forgotten. In this ongoing series, we’re shining a light on the lesser-known chapters of our region’s past: ghost towns, shipwrecks, lost communities, and remarkable events that shaped the coastline we call home. These stories aren’t just relics—they're reminders of the people, industries, and legacies that built the foundation of today’s Gulf South. In this edition, we revisit the dramatic World War II sinking of the SS Joseph M. Cudahy, a forgotten tragedy that unfolded just off the Florida coast…
On a quiet May morning in 1942, deep in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, tragedy struck just 125 miles west of Naples, Florida. The SS Joseph M. Cudahy, a 430-foot steam tanker loaded with crude and lubricating oil, was torpedoed by a German U-boat—marking one of the many little-known but deadly attacks that took place close to home during World War II. Today, its wreck rests on the sea floor—a silent time capsule, a war grave, and a potential environmental threat—largely forgotten by the general public. This is the story of the Cudahy, a ship that reminds us that even in the warm, serene waters of the Gulf Coast, history runs deep.
The Final Voyage
The SS Joseph M. Cudahy was built in 1921—an unarmed merchant vessel, 430 feet long, designed to transport large quantities of oil across U.S. waters. On its final voyage, it was carrying over 300,000 gallons of crude and lubricating oil from Houston, Texas, to Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania. But on May 5, 1942, it never made it past the Florida coast.
The Attack in the Gulf
Just after dawn, the German submarine U-507 fired a torpedo that struck the ship midship. The explosion ignited a massive fire, setting the tanker ablaze. As the fire spread, the crew abandoned ship—but for many, it was too late. Out of 37 crewmembers, only 10 survived. They were eventually rescued by a U.S. Navy aircraft and brought to safety in Key West. As if one torpedo weren’t enough, the U-boat circled back and delivered a second hit—ensuring the vessel’s doom. Two days later, on May 7, the burning, ghost-like hulk of the Cudahy was still afloat. It was finally sunk by gunfire from the USS Coral, a U.S. Navy patrol yacht.
A Forgotten Chapter of the War
Many people are surprised to learn that German submarines were this active in the Gulf of Mexico—patrolling the waters just off our own southern shores. The Cudahy was one of several ships sunk in the Gulf during WWII, part of a forgotten campaign that brought the war frighteningly close to the American coast. Today, the wreck is not just a historical site—it’s considered a potential environmental threat, with large quantities of oil still sealed inside. It serves as a chilling reminder of the cost of war, and of the secrets still buried beneath our waves.
What We Keep, What We Remember
Though the Cudahy rests silently beneath the waves, its story is a powerful reminder of the memories we carry forward—through photographs, letters, uniforms, and treasured keepsakes that connect us to those who came before. Across the Gulf Coast, families continue to preserve pieces of the past, often storing important historical and sentimental items in secure spaces where they’re shielded from time, humidity, and loss. Whether it’s a faded photograph, a wartime journal, or a family heirloom passed down through generations, these items may not be in a museum—but they’re worth protecting, because they tell the quiet stories that history books often miss.
Protect Your Legacy with Storage Choice
Whether you’re safeguarding wartime memorabilia, vintage family keepsakes, or old military documents, our climate-controlled storage units help protect the stories that matter. Because remembering the past is one of the most powerful ways to protect the future.
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And don’t miss the next installment of our Hidden History series.
Storage Choice Presents: Unlocking Space