LIST MISSING MAN AS DEAD
Alfred E. Daniels, S1c, of Stratford, Lost in Atlantic
Alfred E. Daniels, S1c, who was reported missing in action in the North Atlantic last April, is now listed as dead, a letter from Secretary of the Navy Knox has notified his brother, Melvin Daniels of near Stratford.
The Hamilton county sailor, who had been in service since August, 1942, was serving as a member of an armed guard crew aboard a merchant ship when that vessel was torpedoed without warning during the early part of the night of Feb. 23.
Poor Visibility.
According to the naval secretary’s letter, “Unfavorable weather conditions caused visibility to be poor. The ship was abandoned in several lifeboats and life rafts. Some of the survivors were picked up several days later by an American ship, and a few of the personnel aboard the torpedoed ship have been reported as prisoners of war in Germany.”
“It is with deepest regret,” Secretary Knox continues, “that yhou are informed that during the interim of a year there has been no indication that your brother survived. If he had been taken to Germany as a prisoner of war, it is believed that a report would already have been received in view of the relative promptness with which such reports are received from that country.”
Fix Date of Death.
“After considering these circumstances, and due to the length of time that has elapsed, I am reluctantly forced to the conclusion that your brother is deceased.”
The date of Daniel’s death has been fixed, according to law, as Feb. 24, 1944—one year and a day after the date on which his death was presumed to have occurred.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA, Mar. 9, 1944 (photo included)
NOTES:
Alfred Eugene ‘Shorty’ Daniels was born July 6, 1918 to Irvin L. and Tina May Elliott Daniels. He died Feb. 23, 1943, and is memorialized at the Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England.
Alfred E. Daniels was reported missing in action Feb. 1943 and was listed as killed in action Mar. 1944.
Seaman Daniels was awarded the Purple Heart, American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and Combat Action Ribbon.
Sources:
Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA
ancestry.com
World War II Memorial
National Purple Heart Hall of Honor
