John B vaessen

Of those saved one man was rescued through the bottom after the ship had capsized. This was John B. Vaessen, Fireman Second Class, who was later lost. Nearly all of the men who had not been killed or wounded were clear of the lower compartments except Vaessen who remained at his post in the forward distribution room in order to keep lights on the ship as long as possible. He was rescued by helpers from Raleigh as well as by a volunteer crew from Utah consisting of Machinist S. A. Szymanski, Chief Engineman MacSelwiney, and two seamen.

https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/Wallin/Wallin-11.html

https://www.staradvertiser.com/2016/11/30/hawaii-news/tales-of-hero...