Abraham H. Hickerson

Rank: Electrician’s Mate Third Class, U.S. Naval Reserve

Serial: 2455032

Ship: USS CAHTO YTB-215

Entered service from: New Jersey

Died: April 23, 1945

Electrician’s Mate Third Class Abraham Howard Hickerson lived at 757 Division Street in Camden NJ. He died of causes not related to combat while serving as a member of the United States Navy on April 23, 1945. His body was not recovered. He was survived by his mother, Mrs. Mabel Mosley, of the Division Street address.

Electrician’s Mate Hickerson served aboard USS Cahto, a harbor tug of the United States Navy. The Cahto was commanded by Ensign James E. Hair in 1944–45, who was one of the “Golden Thirteen” — the first African-American commissioned officers in the U.S. Navy. He was killed when his ship collided with LST-1064 in Sandy Hook Bay, near Leonardo, New Jersey.

Cahto was laid down as YT-215 by W. A. Robinson, Inc. at Ipswich, Massachusetts and reclassified YTB-215 (“Harbor Tug, Big”) on May 15, 1944 prior to being placed in service on June 1, for duty in the 3rd Naval District. She remained in operation there until July 5, 1956 when she was transferred to the 6th Naval District, remaining active until her disposal on May 6, 1957.