World War II Honoree

Donald F. Haviland

Branch of Service

U.S. Merchant Marine

Hometown

Weymouth, Massachusetts

Honored By

Robert M. Thomas

RECEIVED POSTHUMOUS MERCHANT MARINE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL AND PURPLE HEART. HIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL CITATION READS: THE PRESIDENT OF THE U.S. TAKES PLEASURE IN PRESENTING THE MERCHANT MARINE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL TO DONALD F. HAVILAND, CHIEF ENGINEER ON SS HENRY BACON 2/23/45. IN FEBRUARY 1945, SS HENRY BACON, AN AMERICAN LIBERTY SHIP, IN WHICH CHIEF ENGINEER HAVILAND WAS SERVING, DEPARTED FROM MURMANSK, NORTH RUSSIA CARRYING NORWEGIAN WAR REFUGEES. A FEW DAYS LATER DURING A HEAVY GALE, THE VESSEL WAS FORCED TO DROP OUT OF CONVOY RA-64 TO EFFECT REPAIRS TO HER STEERING GEAR. THE SHIP WAS THEN ATTACKED BY 23 GERMAN PLANES. THE HENRY BACON SHOT DOWN SEVERAL PLANES AND DAMAGED OTHERS, BUT RECEIVED ONE HIT, WHICH CAUSED HER TO FOUNDER. THE LIFEBOATS WERE FILLED WITH ALL OF THE NORWEGIANS AND SOME OF THE CREW MEMBERS, BUT COULD NOT ACCOMMODATE ALL REMAINING PERSONNEL. WHEN THIS SITUATION BECAME KNOWN TO CHIEF ENGINEER HAVILAND, HE INSISTED ON CLIMBING BACK ON BOARD SHIP GIVING HIS PLACE IN THE LIFEBOAT TO A YOUNGER MAN. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, HE WENT DOWN WITH THE SHIP. HIS UNSELFISH ACTION IN SACRIFICING HIS LIFE TO SAVE A SHIPMATE CONSTITUTES A DEGREE OF HEROISM IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE U.S. MERCHANT MARINE.