World War II Honoree

Haig Ayanian

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Santa Monica, California

Honored By

Helen Ayanian

Relationship

Wife

ENLISTED JANUARY 1942 AND WAS ASSIGNED TO 2ND BATTALION SEABEES. SPENT SIX WEEKS TRAINING AT SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. LEFT STATES WITH 1ST BATTALION MARCH 1942 FROM NORFOLK, LANDED AMERICAN SAMOA APRIL 1942. UNITS WERE SENT TO VARIOUS ISLANDS. THEY REGROUPED IN SAMOA FEBRUARY 1944 AND ARRIVED IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA MARCH 1944. AFTER 30 DAYS LEAVE HE WENT TO OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA. HE TRAINED A UNIT TO MAINTAIN BASES, SEABEES HAD BUILT IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC. UNIT WENT TO HUENEME, CALIFORNIA AUGUST 1944, HE WAS FORTUNATE, IT WAS ANNOUNCED, THAT ALL MEN WHO HAD NEVER BEEN OVERSEAS HAD TO GO. HE OBTAINED A POSITION IN THE OFFICER OF THE DAY OFFICE. HE WAS RELEASED FROM SERVICE ON OCTOBER 1945.