BEN P. GAFFORD

Ben Gafford was an engine major. He sailed on the liberty ship SS Arthur Middleton. On January 1, 1943 while en` route from New York to Oran his ship was torpedoed. German sub U-73 fired upon the ship at 1411. Flames were reported 1,000 ft in the air. The ship broke in half and disintegrated. The aft of the stern section rose out of the water and sank in less than 1 minute. Three naval, armed guards on the stern section abandoned ship while it was sinking and were rescued. These were they only survivors.