Biographical/historical information

Mr. Twiford went to sea in June of 1941 out of Norfolk, VA. Most of his career involved working on freighters and tankers. He was 3rd mate on the Essor [Exxon] tanker CAMDEN during World War II.

Twiford professes to have been a "Maritime bum" in his younger days and gives a running commentary on his life and travels at sea. He also duscusses serving on ships sailing under the Panamanian flag; the Korean Conflict; the Vietnam War; the Bay of Pigs invasion; Cuban Prime Minister Fidel Castro's leadership' amd the freedom of serving on merchant ships in that one could jump ship at any port and not be found. Upon retiring from the Merchant Marine, he settled down in North Carolina.

Scope and arrangement

He discusses sailing into the port at Okinawa without the aid of charts, using a picture to navigate. He also comments on making runs to other areas in the South Pacific during the war.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Gift of Horace Twiford

Processing information

Encoded by Apex Data Services

Copyright notice

Repository does not own copyright to the oral history collection. Permission to cite, reproduce, or broadcast must be obtained from both the repository and the participants in the oral history, or their heirs.

Metadata Rights Declaration

General note

1941-1980s

Key terms

Personal Names

Twiford, Horace

Corporate Names

American Civil Liberties Union

Topical

Merchant mariners--United States
Tankers--United States
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
World War, 1939-1945

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