World War II Honoree

Joseph B. Hairfield

Branch of Service

U.S. Merchant Marine

Hometown

Morganton, North Carolina

Honored By

Leslie A. Hairfield

Relationship

Daughter

GRADUATED FROM THE U.S. MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY IN 1944. FOLLOWING GRADUATION, HE SERVED ON THE FOLLOWING SHIPS: EUFAULA VICTORY, UNITED STATES, AND AMERICAN MILLER. LATER HE WORKED FOR THE U.S. LINES. HE WAS INVOLVED IN RESCUE MISSIONS AS WELL AS BRINGING SUPPLIES TO EUROPE AND RETURNING TROOPS HOME. ON ONE SUCH RESCUE MISSION, HE WAS ON HIS WAY TO THE BRIDGE WHEN HE HEARD SOMEONE SHOUT. IT WAS ONE OF TWO MEN WHO WERE MISSING AFTER A PLANE CRASH. THE OTHER THREE HAD DROWNED. ANOTHER RESCUE MISSION WAS TO PICK UP SURVIVORS FROM A BURNING TANKER. SOME OF THE TRIPS HE TOOK PART IN WERE TO BRING FOOD SUPPLIES TO BREMERHAVEN DURING A BLOCKADE, AND ONE TRIP WAS TO ITALY TO BRING THE BUFFALO DIVISION HOME.