The USS Muskeget a U. S. Weather Observation Station Ship, under the command of the U.S. Coast Guard was at her station in the North Atlantic when communications with the ship were lost 9 September 1942. No trace of the Muskeget was ever found and the ship was presumed lost with all 121 crew members. Post war records indicated that the German submarine U-755 sank a merchant vessel on 9 September 1942. Seaman 1st Class Van Alstyne was reported missing in action and later declared dead 10 September 1943. His name is listed on Tablets of the Missing on the East Coast Memorial, New York, New York. Narrative researched and written by National Purple Heart Hall of Honor staff.