Show LEGION OFFICER KNOWS NAVY edwaad spafford chairman of corn com r k atteo on naval affairs has hag climbed the ladder edwird allwell i newly appointed intoe chairman of the hie american legions committee on naval af fudra knows the ilia united C n 11 e d states AI navy on land and 1 on sen sea its as few other men do lioni boni in III springfield vt sir mr spafford Tord was as educated in the public ach schools lie ila received an appointment to the united states naval academy in 1901 assigned to the ship was washington bing ton he became gunnery of officer fleer at that time lie he was the youngest officer in the navy to hold this position while the washington was lying off cape hatteras a sailor was washed overboard in a heavy sea risking his life in the naves mr air spafford Spat rord plunged plunge overboard find and succeeded in rescuing the seaman ills bravery was recognized in a letter of commendation men dation front from the secretary of the a navy ary ue ile rose to the rank of lieutenant commander in 1914 mr Sp atford lifford resigned from the navy to study law at columbia university with the start of the war sir mr spafford offered his services sen ices to hi his s country and he was made a lieuten tint commander in the navy reserve corps ile he sered tor for a time as a member of tile the board of inspection and survey which was in charge of the lie selection of ships to be purchased by the government he directed the fittin ting out of the first 25 23 foot submarine chasers built for distance service and established a submarine chaser base at new london conn when the american navy became active in the straits of otranto mr spafford was sent to establish a submarine chaser base at corfu greece and later became chief of staff of that station ile he was in charge of all operations and was on the first american submarine chaser which destroyed an enemy ship after IQ locating catIng it by the process of sound contact when the austrians austrians Aust rians surrendered two battleships abd two destroyers to the united states lieutenant commander spafford rd took them over later he investigated the situation along the dalmatian coast and made a special report on flume to fo the american potee pence delegation at paris lie ile re delved the distinguished service medal sir mr spa tord Is a member of manhattan naval post of the amerlean american legion in new york city |