Haapalah / Aliyah Bet

On February 25, 1947, President Warfield sailed from Baltimore, headed for the Mediterranean.
The cover story, if anyone asked, was that the ship was going to China, where it was to be sold.

Murray Aronoff served as Seaman/Deck Crew aboard President Warfield Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז.

In December, 1946, Bernard Marks, age 24 years.reported to the Baltimore shipyards to join the crew of President Warfield Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז.
He had been smuggled out of Palestine, first to Greece and then to the United States, and after he was back in Cincinnati for a few months, he was asked to serve on a second ship.
He served as First/Chief Mate aboard President Warfield Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז.

Sam Baer served as a Crew Member and Engineer aboard President Warfild Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז.

John Stanley Grauel served as Galley Crew aboard President Warfield Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז.

John Stanley Grauel's official cover was as a foreign correspondent for the Episcopal journal, The Churchman.
When President Warfield Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז docked in Marseille, he flew to Paris, where he helped organize the transfer of Jewish refugees from DP camps to the port of embarkation on the southern coast of France.
When President Warfield Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז sailed for Palestine, John Stanley Grauel took on the role of ship's cook, and also served as unofficial mediator between the crew and the passengers.

Eli Kalmanowitz Kalm, a Bronx native, served as Chief Steward aboard President Warfield Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז.

David 'Kochavi' Starec left his rabbinical studies at Yeshiva University to become an Orthodox rabbi, to serve as engine room crew aboard Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז President Warfield.

Frank Lavine served as an able-bodied Seaman aboard President Warfield Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז.
After his discharge from the United States Army, Frank Lavine received a call from New York asking if he would help Jews, and a short time later, he was on his way to Baltimore and President Warfield Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז.
He worked preparing the ship until she sailed for Europe.
During the voyage to Europe, Frank Lavine assisted with navigation, lookout and the fire watch.
After President Warfield Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז arrived in Marseille, he was issued discharge papers, but, a planned, he and other crew, remained aboard, when the Maapilim were taken on board and sailed to Palestine.

Solomon 'Sol' M. Lester served as First/Second Engineering Officer aboard President Warfield Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז.

On March 29, 1947, 'Bill' Millman, age 21 years, served as Deck Crew aboard President Warfild Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז.
He had been sent to Baltimore where the Weston Trading Co. a friend told him, worked at in getting emigrants to Palestine.
When he signed on as Helmsman and Bosun mate, and first saw the ship, 'Bill' Millman cites: "No lights, no heat, plenty of rats, It had a metal hull but the superstructure atop the hull was entirely made of wood. The boat was outfitted with 5,000 life jackets and 5,000 1-gallon tins of water and the crew set sail for the Azores."
He became involved in the illegal immigration movement for personal reasons.
'Bill' Millman cites: "I had my problems in the service because of the fact that I was Jewish, "I caught a lot of garbage. But I took care of myself. And when I came out (of the Navy), I didn't like what I saw and what I read about" what the Nazis had done. "I decided I would do something about it."

Avraham Sygal, a volunteer from Mexico, served as Engine Room Crew aboard President Warfield Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז.

Mike Weiss served as boatswain-carpenter aboard President Warfield Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז.

On March 22, 1947, President Warfield Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז stopped at Paulsboro, New Jersey, to take on fuel and change captain.

Zeev Siegel served aboard President Warfield Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז, and received his naval training on board the ship.

Harry Weinsaft served as a Deck Crew aboard President Warfild Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז.
Harry Weinsaft cited: “Since the world did not help us in World War II and after, we had to help ourselves. We broke every law to get our people home and would do it again.”

Cyril 'Cy' Weinstein, age 22 years, one of 40 young Jewish volunteers from the United States, served as Third Mate aboard President Warfield Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז.

On March 29, 1947, at 11:10AM, President Warfield Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז sailed from Philadelphia.

On April 5, 1947, President Warfield Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז stopped at Ponta Delgada, Azores Açores.

Captain Tony Bailey, served as Commander aboard HMS Childers, one of the six British destroyers which intercepted Exodus 1947 אקסודוס תש"ז.

Lt. R.J.G. MacPherson commanded the Exodus 1947 boarding party.
Ninian Stewart cites: "His instructions were to gain control of the Wheelhouse, then clear the Top and Upper Promenade decks from for'ard to aft and establish a 'citadel' at that level. Once those tasks were completed, control was to be gained, using a strong party, first of the steering engine, to ensure it was not tampered with, and then the engine room."
In his operational report, Lt. R.J.G. MacPherson cites: "It is submitted that Boarding Parties may be most strongly warned of the danger of familiarity with American Jew-runners, and especially against accepting offers of alcoholic refreshment. They are extremely plausible fellows after they have ceased opposition, and it may be forgotten that they are criminals with a decided pecuniary interest in regaining control of the vessel if they see any chance of doing so."

Bernard Marks cites: "Mordechai Baumstein shot to death."
Berry Pinshow cites: "Mordechai Baumstein was not killed by a British bullet, rather he received a head injury when beaten with a truncheon. The British refused to allow him to receive medical treatment in Haifa and he died as a result."
John Stanley Grauel cites: "Mordecai Baumstein bled to death from a gunshot wound to the stomach. The British did not transfer him to one of their ships for a blood transfusion."
Shmuel Be'ari cites: "My job was to remain below in the engine room and I did that despite the tear gas grenades that were thrown through the ventilation pipes. We had given maximum power to the engines in our mad and hopeless race to the shore, before we would give in. We almost succeeded in doing so. Only when the British soldiers on the upper deck threatened to throw tear gas grenades on the women and children did we give in. Once caught, we were brought to Haifa and transferred to the deportation ships and we thought that we were now on our way to Cyprus. Only on the following day, 24 hours after the start of our voyage were we told that we were being sent back to France."

The Washington Times cites: "The night of July 18, 1947, the British Royal Navy rammed the boat and boarded it in international waters to keep it from entering Palestine. After a struggle with passengers and crew, three shipmates were killed, including one crew member."
After the British subdued Exodus 1947 אקסודוס passengers and crew, and a medical team was brought on board, Bernard Marks was introduced as Captain. He guided her into Haifa חיפה port.
During the disembarkation process he slipped away with the help of Haganah הגנה members posing as dock workers, and was taken to kibbutz Ein Hashofet קיבוץ עין השופט.
He was later discovered by the British and imprisoned briefly, before returning to the United States.

David 'Kochavi' Starec, age 18 years, stayed with the Maapilim on HMT Ocean Vigour.

Frank Lavine stayed with the Maapilim on HMT Ocean Vigour.
Frank Lavine cites: "After being driven off the prison ship “Ocean Vigour” by club swinging English troops in Hamburg, Germany, we were put on heavily guarded trains and taken to Poppendorf and Amstau internment camps. Most of us ended up in Poppendorf."

Meier Schwarz, who had been sent to Europe to usher refugees to the south of France to catch Haapalah boats to Israel, was smuggled aboard HMT Ocean Vigour, deporting the 4,500 Exodus 1947 Maapilm.
He served as Haganah הגנה Commander aboard HMT Ocean Vigour, on her voyage back to France.

Zeev Siegel was transported back to France on HMT Ocean Vigour, and was assigned by Yossi Harel the job of Escort מלווה, serving under Zvi Meeri Katznelson, head מלווה, to live with the Maapilim, and help maintain their morale and discipline.

Moses Fuks, age 11 years, and Hadassa Fuks, age 14 years, were transported back to France on HMT Ocean Vigour.

Zevulun Gold, Nehama Gold and Pesia Gold, were transported back to France on HMT Ocean Vigour.

Michael Pertzov and Pessia Baumstein Pertzov were transported back to France on HMT Ocean Vigour.
Berry Pinshow cites: Pessia Baumstein Pertzov gave birth to a daughter, Hana, in the ship's "hospital".

Disembarking Exodus 1947, Izhak Pressburger was put on the Transport Ship, HMT Ocean Vigour.
Itzhak Pressburger cites: "We then realized that instead of going northwest towards Cyprus, the ship was headed west towards France,"