Captain Hugh Stephens Oral History Interview

File

Identifier: CA-RG15-0030

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

In this interview Captain Hugh Stephens speaks of his time as a merchant mariner during World War II working on liberty transport ships, his experiences during his career after the war, how he got into being a nautical educator, and comparing cadets from his time to cadets nowadays.

Dates

2011-03-31

Creator

State University of New York Maritime College (Organization)

Language of Materials

Materials entirely in English

Conditions Governing Access

The resource is available online at maritimedigitalcollections.com at http://maritimedigitalcollections.com/index.php/Detail/objects/3775. Please e-mail library@sunymaritime.edu for more information about the resource or to ask questions about accessing the resource.

Conditions Governing Use

Reproductions may be provided to users to support research and scholarship. However, collection use is subject to all copyright laws. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Biographical Note

Captain Hugh Stephens is a World War II veteran, having spent time as a merchant mariner on several Liberty ships throughout the war. A liberty ship was the main class of goods transport vessel for the American merchant fleet during the war. One of his more memorable experiences is during a particular cruise where he traveled to Murmansk, the main Russian port where the US sent supplies. Stephens recounts how that particular convoy route was dangerous for ships, but he made it through in one piece.

After the war, Stephens spent time on several naval ships (hospital ships and troop transports) before making the tranisition to working on frieghters and tankers. Eventually he retired from his mariner life and pursued a career in nautical education, teaching a new generation of merchant mariners. He is still a lecturer at SUNY Mariitme College.