Show LEGION OFFICER KNOWS NAVY edward spafford chairman of tom corn mlucy on naval affairs Aff alra has climb climbed id tho the ladder elwell Ep newly appointed chAl chairman minn of the american legions commit tee on naval na val af falm knows knowl tile tho united states navy on land and on son sen as ai few other men do 16 born in springfield vt sparford Tord was educated in tile the public schools II 11 received elved an appointment to io the united states naval academy lit in 1001 assigned to tho the ship washington lie he became gunnery officer at that time lie cwi asa i the youngest officer in the navy to told hold tills this position while tile the washington was lying oft off capo cape a ballor was washed overboard in a heavy son an hla his life in the waves sir mr Sp spafford lifford plunged overboard tind rind succeeded in reselling rescuing tile sp irman ills bravery wits was recognized in a letter of commendation men dation from the secretary of the navy ile ijo rose to the rank of tell llen tenant comin in 1014 sir air Sp Sim nord atford resigned from the navy to study law at columbia university with tho the start of the war sir spat ford offered ills services to ills country and ho was made a commander in the navy reserve corps ile he served tor for a time as ag a member of the board of inspection and survey which was vas in ch charge arie of the selection of ships to bo be purchased by the government ile he directed the fiti ting ling out of vie uie first 23 foot submarine chasers built tor for distance s erv lee ice and established a chaser base at new london conn when the american nay navy became active in the straits of otranto mr air brafford Bp afford was vaa sent to establish a sub bub anarine chaser base at corfu greece ahde and later beciri litant that station ile he was wag in charge of nil all operations and was on tho the first amerlean american submarine chaser vv hl da destroyed an enemy ship after locating it ly by tho the process of sound con contact when the austrians Aust lana rians surrendered two battleships aad two destroyers to tho the united state lieutenant our commander nin anler Fil lafford took them over later lie investigated the llie situation al along ong tile dal dalmatian batlan coast and wado a special report oni on fiume to 0 o tile the A merican american delegation delegall n at paris lie he received tho the distinguished service medal mn Is a member of manhattan naval post of the american ican legion in new york city |