Enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve Force on June 6th, 1918, and called to active duty at Norfolk, Va., August 10th. Detailed as seaman, second class, on transport Pastores in September and after one trip to St. Nazaire, France, rated Yeoman, 3rd class. Promoted to Yeoman, 2nd class, and placed in charge of entertainment of troops on board. Discharged at Newport News, Va., after completing five trips to France. Mr. Gifford’s patriotic poems, written while in service, brought forth much favorable comment from government officials. His home is in Charlotte.
