Joe Hafford
Engineer

©

I n one issue of the Project newsletter, The Ugly Duckling, the editor made a request for memories of wartime experiences. One of the responses came from Joseph A. Hafford of Tennessee.

Friends,

It has been a long time and a lot of water over the dam, so to speak. Fifteen years ago I couldn't have named half the ships I was on during the war. I chose to follow another path in life afterward and the only evidence of the experiences was in my rather weak memory, which is no better nowadays. (I hide my own Easter eggs.)

When the government, in its infinite wisdom, decided that merchant seamen were fit for classification as veterans (ca. 1985) I decided to see if I qualified. I sent in my name and Social Security Number. All my records and photographs had fallen by the wayside over the years. In return I got a Certificate of Service and, lo and behold, a record of my shipping experience! It renewed all my memories and I decided that my family might be interested so I shook up the memory banks and found I had more recollections than I realized.

I never was shot at ...

My record shows that I shipped on five Liberty ships as well as an assortment of other ships. I am sending copies, so feel free to dispose of the package if you can't use it.

I spent the last four months of the war in New London at the maritime school and emerged with a Third Assistant Engineer's license. To meet my obligation, I shipped on a Liberty that went to South America, two trips. Then, a couple of years later, another Liberty carrying wheat to Germany, again two trips.

Sincerly, Joseph A. Hafford.

PS:

About prewar experience, I was a high school dropout and my father in desperation signed for me to ship out at the age of fifteen. I eventually woke up and went back to school, shipping during summers for funds. That is why I was 19 upon graduation from high school, and the war had started.

The prewar ships were, as best I can remember:
DelNorte Delta Line - galley boy
Waterman intercoastal ship (name ?) - mess boy
DelBrasil Delta line - ordinary seaman
Seatrain New Orleans - ordinary seaman

I made one trip each on the first three ships, and several trips to Havana and New York on the Seatrain.

I had a few pictures of the times, but over the years they have all gotten lost, sorry. I do have a picture of a proud Third Assistant Engineer taken in 1945 that I can send you if it would be of any use.

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