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theater. During this period, Mehaffey oversaw operation of the canal while record amounts of traffic moved through it. At one point in 1945, more than 100 ships waited at the eastern entrance to the canal. During his tenure, Mehaffey also conducted the
Isthmian Canal Studies in 1947. Better known as the "Mahaffey Report", the studies wproposed getting rid of the canal locks and constructing a sea-level canal at a cost of $ 3.5 billion. No action was taken on the report, but Mahaffey received the
86:
385:
420:, England. He was promoted to Engineer Purchasing Officer on January 1, 1920. However, with the war over, Mehaffey returned to the United States where his brevet commissions were revoked, and he returned to the rank of captain in March 1920. He did not remain at the rank long. In July 1920, Mehaffey was promoted to major and assigned to the American Liquidation Mission in England, where he helped to dispose of excess military materiel.
128:
272:(a newspaper which still exists in 2013). Joseph had an older brother, Robert Chisholm (born July 22, 1884), and an older sister, Eleanor Cowles (born October 10, 1885, and died in 1887). He also had a younger brother, William Kenneth (born August 23, 1889, and died in 1896). Mehaffey's mother died in March 1899, and his father in November 1907 married Mary E. Mount of
432:. On July 16, 1925, Mehaffey was appointed assistant to the executive officer of the Arlington Memorial Bridge Commission, an independent agency of the U.S. federal government established by Congress. In that capacity, he helped oversee the design and early construction of the bridge. He also supervised the 1927 conversion of the attic of the
423:
In 1923, Mehaffey was appointed professor of practical military engineering at West Point. After teaching there for two years, Mehaffey was appointed assistant to
Colonel Clarence O. Sherrill, Director of Public Buildings and Parks for the city of Washington, D.C. Mehaffey led a reorganized Office of
544:
On May 15, 1944, Mahaffey was appointed governor of the Panama Canal. He was promoted to major general in June 1944. Although canal traffic plunged in 1942 to levels not seen since 1918, the invasion of France and collapse of Nazi
Germany shifted hundreds of thousands of troops to the Pacific
346:. He served there until May 4, 1914, when he was assigned as an assistant to the head engineer of the Eastern Department of the Army Corps of Engineers. He remained in the office only until September 1, when he was assigned to the Chief of Engineers of Washington, D.C.
478:
on July 1, 1939, where he once again served with the 1st
Engineer Regiment. In October 1939, the unit was reorganized as the 1st Engineer Battalion. He was promoted to colonel in January 1940. In November 1940, Mehaffey was appointed engineer of the
443:
Mehaffey was assigned to the Panama Canal Zone in
December 1929, where he served as assistant maintenance engineer. This proved to be his longest assignment to date, and lasted until August 1933. He returned to the United States and entered the
353:. In that capacity, he was also the Chief Engineer for the board. Mehaffey spent two years in Alaska building bridges, roads, and trails throughout the territory. During his tenure there, Mehaffey was promoted to
252:
business, rising to the position of Vice
President of the First National Bank of Lima. He later organized the Merchants National Bank and Metropolitan Bank. He was elected to two terms in the
1335:
567:(IBRD) in 1953 as chief of the bank's transportation division. He retired from IBRD in 1955, although he continued to consult on engineering issues for it until the time of his death.
507:
In
September 1941, Mehaffey was appointed engineer of maintenance in the Panama Canal Zone. He served in this position until 1944. During this time, he undertook construction of the
335:, he was ordered on August 28, 1912, to report to the Washington Barracks of the Corps to attend engineering school. Upon his graduation on February 28, 1913, he was commissioned a
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327:, until November 21, 1911, at which time he was transferred to the Panama Canal Zone. He served there until June 15, 1912. After serving briefly in the Corps offices in
1320:
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455:(WPA). Although Mehaffey had responsibility over WPA projects nationwide, he primarily worked on airport, beach, pier, playground, and school projects in
451:
Mehaffey was promoted to lieutenant colonel on August 1, 1935. Upon his promotion, he was assigned to be executive assistant to the Chief
Engineer of the
525:
The U.S. Army considered the security of the Panama Canal second only to the security of the continental United States during the war. After attacks by
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Mehaffey retired as governor in 1948 after his four-year term expired. He was assigned to the Ohio River
Division of the Army Corps of Engineers.
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368:. He returned to Washington, D.C., on October 25, 1917, where he served again in the office of the Chief Engineer. He was promoted to brevet
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Mehaffey lived the last few years of his life in
Washington, D.C. He suffered a brief, undisclosed illness in January 1953, and died at
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History of United States Naval Operations in World War II: The Battle of the Atlantic, September 1939-May 1943.
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463:. During this period, Mehaffey was appointed to Assistant Administrator for Engineering for the entire WPA.
1005:
The Democratic Party of the State of Ohio: A Comprehensive History of Democracy in Ohio From 1803 to 1912.
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575:
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Mehaffey was educated in the Lima public schools. As both his grandfather and father were very active in
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On July 1, 1915, Mehaffey was made a member of the Board of Road Commissioners for the recently created
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Mehaffey was an assistant on the commission which designed and built the Arlington Memorial Bridge (
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303:. He entered West Point on June 15, 1907, and graduated on June 13, 1911. He was commissioned a
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Mehaffey served at the Washington Barracks until October 16, 1913, when he was assigned to the
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Thomas M. Leonard and John F. Bratzel, eds. Lanham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield, 2007.
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Joseph Mehaffey retired from the U.S. Army in 1949. In February 1950, he joined the
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in September 1938 and graduated in June 1939. He was then named post commander of
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244:, in 1850 or 1851 at the age of 17. Settling in Lima, he established him in the
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Buildings and Parks, which was rapidly expanding as construction continued on
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On May 15, 1919, Mehaffy was assigned command of Replacement Unit No. 6 at
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submarines in June 1942, an anti-submarine air patrol was established at
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412:. He was subsequently assigned Section Engineer at Base Section No. 1 in
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196:
146:
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Pérez, Orlando J. "Nationalism and the Challenge to Canal Security." In
754:"Former Governor of Panama Canal to Direct Koppers Projects in Turkey."
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on June 29, 1918. Just three months later, he was promoted to brevet
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on June 11, and from June 19 to August 1 observed operations of the
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beginning in 1885, then purchased the paper and merged it with the
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Jacobs, B.F. "Panama's Third Lock Site Excavation Gets Underway."
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Panama Canal Company, p. 7; "Big Fight Shaping on Panama Canal."
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United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni
725:"Office of Buildings and Parks Will Be Reorganized Today."
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naval base near the eastern entrance to the canal, and the
249:
1032:
Panama Canal Authority biography of Major General Mehaffey
207:. He was assigned in 1941 as maintenance engineer of the
1361:
Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)
379:
1102:
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Mackie, Branden; Morrill, Peter K.; and Lee, Laura M.
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Joseph Mehaffey never married. He was a fellow of the
1021:
West Point, N.Y.: West Point Alumni Foundation, 1984.
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International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
499:
Mehaffey began construction on the Miraflores locks (
459:. One of his major construction efforts was building
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United States Army Command and General Staff College
993:
Canal Zone, Panama: The Panama Canal Company, 1958.
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The Works Progress Administration in New York City.
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986:Urbana, Ill.: University of Illinois Press, 2001.
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979:Chicago: Social Science Research Council, 1938.
677:"Gen. Joseph Mehaffey, Helped Build Span Here."
559:, working as an engineer on various projects in
364:on August 5, 1917, almost four months after the
1321:United States Army Corps of Engineers personnel
827:
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199:; and served as a supervising engineer for the
511:and the Transithmian Highway. He received the
175:(November 20, 1889 – February 18, 1963) was a
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815:November 1941, p. 644; "Canal Lock Digging."
738:"Maj. U.S. Grant Here to Be Sherrill's Aid."
574:on February 18, 1963. Mehaffey was buried at
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440:with bedrooms, bathrooms, and office space.
301:United States Military Academy at West Point
1346:United States Army generals of World War II
1326:United States Army personnel of World War I
1014:Chicago: American historical Society, 1921.
260:newspaper. Mehaffey's father worked in the
256:, and owned a large amount of stock in the
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563:. He left the firm in 1952. He joined the
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1012:A Standard History of Allen County, Ohio.
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1371:Military personnel from Washington, D.C.
1019:Register of Graduates and Former Cadets.
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187:, he was the consulting engineer on the
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1376:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery
1331:United States Military Academy faculty
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693:West Point Alumni Foundation, p. 1519.
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617:West Point Alumni Foundation, p. 1518.
587:Society of American Military Engineers
228:Mehaffey was born in November 1889 in
1341:United States Army War College alumni
1311:United States Military Academy alumni
1076:
991:Living and Working in the Canal Zone.
972:Charleston, S.C.: Arcadia Pub., 2011.
847:West Point Alumni Foundation, p. 304.
1007:Columbus, Ohio: Ohio Pub. Co., 1913.
380:World War I service and later career
894:"Mehaffey Leaves Canal Zone Helm."
878:"Youths Win Place Among Generals."
662:
583:American Society of Civil Engineers
13:
1356:Governors of the Panama Canal Zone
998:Latin America During World War II.
541:cargo ships to and from the area.
218:
14:
1387:
1351:Recipients of the Legion of Merit
1025:
865:"Mehaffey Named to Panama Post."
798:"Col. Steese Fills Panama Post."
776:Mackie, Morrill, and Lee, p. 80.
547:Army Distinguished Service Medal
518:Mahaffey was promoted to brevet
491:Panama Canal Zone and retirement
307:in the Army Corps of Engineers.
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37:Joseph Mehaffey, center, in 1948
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468:United States Army War College
430:Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway
299:politics, he won entry to the
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453:Works Progress Administration
410:American Expeditionary Forces
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201:Works Progress Administration
143:American Expeditionary Forces
1316:Military personnel from Ohio
1159:Military and civil governors
965:New York, H.W. Wilson, 1949.
572:Walter Reed General Hospital
7:
1366:United States Army generals
963:Current Biography Yearbook.
907:"Panama Inquiry Is Voted."
714:Current Biography Yearbook,
576:Arlington National Cemetery
161:Distinguished Service Medal
10:
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549:for his work as governor.
211:, and was governor of the
16:United States Army general
1277:Isthmian Canal Commission
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789:March–April 1940, p. 146.
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1037:Generals of World War II
659:Accessed April 20, 2013.
638:Accessed April 20, 2013.
404:. The unit embarked for
357:on July 1, 1916, and to
329:Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
141:Replacement Unit No. 6,
92:United States of America
1003:Powell, Thomas Edward.
982:Morison, Samuel Eliot.
767:Millett, p. 32, fn. 27.
333:Wheeling, West Virginia
185:Army Corps of Engineers
1306:People from Lima, Ohio
989:Panama Canal Company.
787:The Military Engineer.
589:, and a member of the
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325:New Orleans, Louisiana
292:
195:; helped renovate the
173:Joseph Cowles Mehaffey
25:Joseph Cowles Mehaffey
758:February 1950, p. 57.
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466:Mehaffey entered the
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344:1st Engineer Regiment
317:Rock Island, Illinois
311:Early military career
291:At West Point in 1911
290:
262:Allen County Democrat
258:Allen County Democrat
183:. As a member of the
115:Years of service
935:"Mehaffey, Joseph C"
813:Excavating Engineer.
647:Powell, pp. 266–267.
376:on October 7, 1918.
1065:Francis K. Newcomer
1048:Glen Edgar Edgerton
819:September 27, 1941.
802:September 10, 1941.
351:Territory of Alaska
315:Mehaffey served in
270:Lima Times Democrat
236:who emigrated from
215:from 1944 to 1948.
1115:Military governors
911:November 27, 1945.
681:February 22, 1963.
591:Army and Navy Club
585:, a member of the
578:three days later.
535:United States Navy
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370:lieutenant colonel
321:Memphis, Tennessee
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181:United States Army
109:United States Army
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1108:Panama Canal Zone
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1062:Succeeded by
1010:Rusler, William.
975:Millett, John D.
520:brigadier general
213:Panama Canal Zone
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151:Panama Canal Zone
66:February 18, 1963
53:November 20, 1889
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22:
19:
1220:
1053:
1018:
1011:
1004:
997:
990:
983:
976:
970:Fort Dupont.
969:
962:
957:Bibliography
945:November 28,
943:. Retrieved
938:
929:
921:
916:
908:
903:
895:
879:
874:
866:
861:
852:
816:
812:
807:
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794:
786:
781:
772:
763:
756:Marine News.
755:
739:
734:
726:
721:
713:
678:
652:
643:
631:
622:
580:
569:
554:
551:
543:
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517:
506:
500:
465:
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395:
389:
348:
341:
314:
294:
274:Chatham-Kent
269:
268:to form the
265:
261:
257:
227:
209:Panama Canal
172:
171:
68:(1963-02-18)
18:
1301:1963 deaths
1296:1889 births
1189:(1924–1979)
1161:(1914–1924)
1117:(1904–1914)
941:. U.S. Army
939:ANCExplorer
527:Nazi German
472:Fort DuPont
438:third floor
434:White House
266:Daily Times
254:Ohio Senate
234:Ulster Scot
203:during the
197:White House
147:Fort DuPont
1290:Categories
597:References
503:) in 1940.
398:Camp Meade
297:Democratic
230:Lima, Ohio
224:Early life
80:Allegiance
56:Lima, Ohio
49:1889-11-20
1140:Blackburn
1104:Governors
539:convoying
531:Coco Solo
248:and then
118:1911–1949
1226:Newcomer
1221:Mehaffey
1216:Edgerton
1168:Goethals
1150:Metcalfe
1145:Thatcher
716:, p. 49.
501:depicted
476:Delaware
428:and the
402:Maryland
390:depicted
138:Commands
98:Service/
1275:of the
1261:Parfitt
1246:Fleming
1231:Seybold
1201:Burgess
1173:Harding
1106:of the
436:into a
374:colonel
355:captain
278:Ontario
250:banking
246:grocery
242:Ireland
179:in the
1256:Parker
1241:Carter
1236:Potter
1211:Ridley
1206:Schley
1196:Walker
1178:Morrow
1134:Rogers
1129:Magoon
561:Turkey
537:began
418:London
406:France
359:brevet
331:, and
323:; and
282:Canada
157:Awards
100:branch
89:
75:, U.S.
58:, U.S.
1251:Leber
1124:Davis
362:major
947:2022
123:Rank
63:Died
43:Born
483:in
474:in
400:in
191:in
1292::
937:.
887:^
836:^
824:^
747:^
698:^
686:^
664:^
604:^
593:.
487:.
392:).
339:.
319:;
284:.
280:,
276:,
240:,
149:;
145:;
1271:‡
1136:‡
1096:e
1089:t
1082:v
949:.
51:)
47:(
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