After drifting for 36 hours in shark infested waters the 64 CENTAUR survivors were rescued by the Mugford. This was the headline in the Boston Post three days after the sinking.
NEWS FLASH:
Hal Markham of Springfield, Oregon was an 18 year old seaman aboard the USS MUGFORD in May 1943 when he helped in the rescue operation. He recently notified us that...
"...The man that I helped (onto the Mugford) was covered with oil and had a signal flag sunburned to his back, while cleaning him up which was quite painful to him I put his dog tags in my jacket. When I remembered and took them out he had been taken off the ship. I still have them. His name is ... on the tag...If I knew him to be still alive or some member of his family would like to have them back I would send them."
June 6th. 1997 -- UPDATE on Fred Millar.
Australian Veterans Affairs tracked down Fred Millar's file. Unfortunately he was killed in a train shunting accident at Tamworth, NSW in 1954. He left a widow - Una - but no offspring, his address at the time being Springridge NSW.
John Foley rang phone enquiries. There is one Millar living in the area but he is new to the area and of no relation. Has the trail gone cold?
11 other Mugford crew members remember May 15th. 1943
