Hiram Delbert Hatfield

Albert Hatfield (older brother)

Hazel Hatfield (sister)

Delila Hatfield (sister)

Edgar Hatfield (brother)

Jack Hatfield (brother)

Charles Hatfield (brother)

Theodore Hatfield (brother)

Leo Hatfield (brother)

Eleanor Hatfield (sister)

Billie Hatfield (brother)

Lucy Evelyn Peck Bailey (wife)

**Hiram Delbert Hatfield** was the son of Charles Martin Hatfield and May Dora Rasey, and the brother of Albert, Hazel, Edgar, Delila, Jack, Charles, Theodore, Leo, Eleanor, and Billie. He was also the husband of Lucy Evelyn Peck Bailey, and the father of Richard and John.

## Biography

Hiram was born on December 10, 1909 to Charles Martin Hatfield and May Dora Rasey. He was the second born of nine children, which included Albert, Hazel, Delila, Edgar, Jack, Charles, Theodore, and Leo.

He married Lucy Evelyn Peck Bailey at an unknown date. They had two sons named Richard and John.

### World War II and Death

Hiram served in the military during World War II, and was stationed in the submarine Harder.

*"On 5 August 1944, HARDER stood out from Fremantle, Australia, along with USS HAKE (SS-256) and USS HADDO (SS-255). Two weeks later, passing into the South China Sea, they joined up with USS RAY (SS-271), USS GUITARRO (SS-363), and USS RATON (SS-270) in a wolfpack that cost the Japanese four cargo ships. The next day HARDER and HADDO were at it again, sending three coastal defense vessels and two frigates to the bottom. After crippling an enemy destroyer with her final torpedo, HADDO left HARDER and HAKE on their own to head to Biak, an island north of Papua, to take on additional supplies and weaponry.*

*Dawn on 24 August 1944 found the two subs prowling the waters around Hermana Mayor Island, which lies off the Philippine island of Luzon. Just before six in the morning they sighted what was later identified as the Japanese vessel PB-102 and its escort. (PB-102 was actually USS STEWART (DD-224), an American destroyer that the Japanese had raised from a sunken dry dock in Surabaya, Indonesia, overhauled, and commissioned as their own.) PB-102 entered nearby Dasol Bay; the escort remained outside the harbor, pinging for subs. Then the escort swung in HAKE’s direction. “Figured he had contacted us so started deep and rigged ship for silent running,” HAKE’s commanding officer wrote in his patrol report. “He kept pinging in our direction…. He apparently had two targets and couldn’t decide what the score was.” The other target was, of course, HARDER. At around 1730 HAKE heard the enemy escort drop fifteen depth charges in quick succession, none of which was close by. Unfortunately, the charges were close to HARDER. Though HAKE didn’t know it at the time, her sister sub had gone down. HAKE’s C.O. noted in confusion that the escort “made no more drops although he seemed to have us fairly well located.” In all probability the Japanese Sailors were, in the words of a report examined after the war, too busy watching “oil, wood chips, and cork” rise to the surface above HARDER’s grave to go after HAKE.*

*Thus ended HARDER’s incredible run as one of the war’s most successful submarines; seventy-nine men remain on eternal patrol with her. The boat received six battle stars for her service, as well as the Presidential Unit Citation. In accordance with Navy tradition, the citation was presented to the crew of USS HARDER (SS-568) when she was commissioned on 19 August 1952."* **~USS Nautilus (**https://www.ussnautilus.org/the-loss-of-uss-harder/)

Hiram was one of the men who was lost at sea, and was officially declared missing in action & lost at sea on September 29, 1994. He was 34 years old.

## Timeline

* **1909:** Hiram was born on December 10 in McClain, Muskogee, Oklahoma.
* **1912:** His sister Hazel was born on June 25 in McClain, Oklahoma. Hiram was 2 years old.
* **1915:** His brother Edgar was born on January 1 in Keefton, Muskogee, Oklahoma. Hiram was 5 years old.
* **1917:** His sister Delila was born on September 14 in Scott County, Arkansas. Hiram was 7 years old.
* **1920:** As of 1920, Hiram lived with his family in Coal, Scott, Arkansas.
* **1920:** His brother Jack was born on August 5 in Scott, Arkansas. Hiram was 10 years old.
* **1923:** His brother Charles was born on June 3 in Scott, Arkansas. Hiram was 13 years old.
* **1925:** When Hiram was 15 years old, his brother Theodore was born on November 10.
* **1927:** When Hiram was 18 years old, his brother Leo was born on December 10.
* **1930:** When Hiram was 20 years old, his sister Eleanor was born on October 17.
* **1933:** When Hiram was 23 years old, his brother Theodore died on November 10 at age 8 due to pneumonia.
* **1935:** His brother Billie was born on July 28 in Hanford, Kings, California. Hiram was 25 years old.
* **1945:** Hiram was declared missing in action and dead on January 11 in Il, Oulun, Laani, Finland. He was only 35 years old.

## Trivia

* He served in WWII.
* He was declared missing in action aboard submarine Harbor, which was lost at sea.
* He shares a birthday with his younger brother Leo.