Here is the latest I have on the Liberty Ship question from Alabama DNR. Looks like this is going to be one of those "how bad do you want to know? " things. Good thing I'm hardheaded. lol. On we go! Everyone I've spoken to or heard from with these agencies have been fantastic and more than willing to help. Thanks Kevin.
Mr. Keahey,
I received the phone call from James Ballard regarding your original inquiry to the GSMFC. As you are aware about 35 years has passed since the Liberty ships were deployed off Alabama. No one who worked for the Marine Resources Division during the deployment activities currently work for the MRD. I checked with a few current MRD employees who assist in compiling and archiving recent artificial reef deployments and/or are familiar with the artificial reef program but they did not have the information you are seeking. I called a retired employee who worked for MRD during the deployments and another retired employee who began employment with MRD immediately after the final Liberty ship was deployed as an artificial reef. Both could not associate an original Liberty ship name with the artificial reef name. In addition, they did not even know if that information was ever written down by MRD partly due to the fact that the ships were officially handed over to the State when they settled on the bottom. Nonetheless, they suggested some places to look. One of those suggested places were correspondence files from the Mrd Director at the time. Those files were destroyed during Hurricane Katrina. The second suggestion was for you to check with MARAD, the governmental agency responsible for storage and transfer of vessels to interested states. A final place to look, but the least promising, would be for you to contact the Mobile shipbuilding company who was contracted (by MARAD) to prep the ships prior to deployment and deliver to the reef site. Unfortunately, they could not remember which company that was. Scuttling of each ships was performed by U.S.Navy demolition teams. Possibly, records may exist there. Hopefully, one of these other avenues will work out for you as we will not be able to fulfill your request.
I was curious about these specific Liberty ships and performed a little research on these vessels. I knew prior to the search that the Liberty ship program was created to help supply Britain prior to the U.S. entering the war. After Pearl Harbor the Liberty ships (over 2,700 in all) were used to transport food goods, military equipment, supplies, and troops. I was pleased to discover the Daniel Huger and William T Barry received two Battle Stars each for service during World War II. Interestingly, the Oran Roberts was delivered to the U.S government on this day 56 years ago. I too would be interested to find out which vessels are associated with current artificial reefs and would apreciate it if you would pass on your findings. If I can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to ask.
Kevin Anson, Biologist III
Alabama Marine Resources Division
P.O. Drawer 458
Gulf Shores, AL 36547