Newman, Thomas "The Happiest Man"

Ship’s carpenter Joe Evans is the “happiest man alive” upon reaching New Orleans after having spent twenty-eight days on a life-raft in the South Atlantic following his merchant ship’s sinking. He’s looking forward to a nice month-long furlough — that is, until he realizes that, despite its dangers, he’d rather be at sea. So he signs up for another trip out, on a ship leaving that evening. And becomes the “happiest man” yet again .