Show LEGION OFFICER KNOWS NAVY edward Sli spafford afford chairman of committee on naval affairs has climbed the ladder edw edward ird elbelt newly appointed chairman of the lie american legions committee on naval affairs knobs the united states navy on land find on sea as few other men do horn born in springfield vt sir air Sp Tord lifford was educated in the public schools ue he received an appointment to the united states naval academy in 1901 assigned to the ship washington lie he become became gunnery officer at that time he vias mas the youngest officer in tile navy to hold this position while the washington was lying off cape hatteras a sailor ballor was washed overboard in a heavy sen sea risking his life in the waves maves mr spofford Tord plan plunged ged overboard fail rind succeeded in rescuing the seaman ills bravery was recognized in a let letter ter of commendation men dation from the secretary of the navy ile he rose to the rank 0 of f lieutenant commander in 1914 mr air spofford Tord resigned from the navy to study law at columbia university with the start of the war mar mr spafford offered his services to his country and lie was made a lieutenant commander in the navy reserve corps ile he served for a time as a member of the board of inspection and survey which was in charge of the selection of ships to be purchased by the government when the american navy became active in the straits of otranto mr spofford Tord was sent to establish a submarine chaser base nt at corfu greece and later became chief of staff of that station ile he was in charge of fill all operations and ans on the first american submarine chaser which destroyed an enemy ship after locating it by the process of sound contact when the lans surrendered two battleships and two destroyers destroyer s to the united states lieutenant commander oni mander Sp spofford lifford took them over later he be investigated the situation along the dalmatian const coast and made a 11 special report on flume to the amerian Am Ani erkan peace delegation at paris lie ile received the distinguished service medal mr Is a member of manhattan naval post of the america legion in new york city |