Harry W. Gifford Sr.
Captain Harry W. Gifford Sr. apparently had already been discharged from the nation’s service when he was declared dead on January 9, 1944. According to the book Camden County Centennial 1844–1944, he had served in the United States Navy with the rank of Captain. The American Battle Monuments Commission lists him as a civilian, although memorialized at the Honolulu War Memorial.
Harry W. Gifford Sr. first appeared in the Camden NJ City Directory in the 1924–25 edition. He was living at 528 Mechanic Street with his wife Mae and son Harry Jr., and working as an “engineer.” In the 1926 Directory, the Giffords were living at 926 South 8th Street; at this time Harry Gifford was working as an auto mechanic. The family then appears in 1929 and 1931 at 1114 Broadway, and he was again working as an engineer. He last appears in the 1940 Directory, then living at 715 Mount Vernon Street. His wife, Mrs. Mae Gifford, appeared in the 1943 Directory, still living at 715 Mount Vernon Street.
Harry W. Gifford Sr. was survived by his wife Mae, and a son Machinist’s Mate Second Class Harry W. Gifford Jr., then serving with the United States Navy in the Mediterranean.
Sailor Describes Invasion Suspense
Camden Courier-Post —
Camden Man Tells How Allied Planes Smashed Sicily Defenses
A letter reciting a strange incident during the Allied invasion of Sicily was received recently from Machinists Mate 2/c Harry W. Gifford, of Camden, by the Navy Mothers Club. A Presidential citation was conferred on Gifford’s ship for its part in the invasion.
Gifford, son of Mrs. Mae Gifford, of 715 Mt. Vernon street, addressed his letter to Mrs. Edna Ott, of the Navy Mothers Club. He wrote in part:
Anchored Off Shore
“Our particular group had arrived at the designated time and was riding at anchor a few miles off the coast of Licati. The zero hour was still an hour or so away, so we assumed the roles of spectator and proceeded to watch our bombers blast the enemy installations. The enemy put up a rather feeble anti-aircraft fire, but it was an interesting sight to see. We felt secure in the Stygian blackness, but our vigilance was never for a second relaxed as we realized the seriousness of our task.
“Then the inevitable occurred. A seemingly endless beam of light reached out across the water and began searching for the intruder. Finally, one light settled directly on a ship ahead of us and, since we were a bit to one side of it, we were also revealed by the probing light.
Could Read by Light
“It was so bright in the pilot house you could actually see to read a newspaper. An enemy salvo, I believe, would have been actually welcome at that time — anything to break that terrible suspense — and then the lights went out one by one just as quickly as they had been turned on.
“The amazing thing was that not a shot was fired. Why, still remains to be found out. The fact remains, however, that the enemy missed a golden opportunity because, when the lights were turned on again, they were met with a veritable hail of shells. The U. S. Navy definitely doesn’t miss.”