World War II Honoree

Lawrence Robert Head

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Spreckels, California

Honored By

Lawrence Head

Relationship

Self

ENLISTED IN U.S. NAVY AT THE SALINAS, CALIFORNIA ARMORY OCTOBER 21, 1942. BROUGHT IN FOR BASIC TRAINING AS A SEABEE, DECEMBER 18, 1942. REPORTED TO SAN FRANCISCO, WAS SWORN IN, AND SENT TO NORFOLK, VIRGINIA FOR BASIC TRAINING DECEMBER 23, 1942. AT THE NAVY SEABEES TRAINING BASE, CAMP BRADFORD, HE WAS A MEMBER OF 73RD NAVAL CONSTRUCTION BATTALION. AT THE END OF BOOT CAMP, WAS PART OF AN 100 MAN DRAFT, JANUARY 26, 1943. THE ORDERS WERE FOR PORT HUENEME, CALIFORNIA. ARRIVED ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1943 AND WAS ASSIGNED TO THE STATION FORCE. THE LARGE HOME PORT STATION FORCE WAS OF VITAL IMPORTANCE IN THE SUPPORT OF THE SEABEES. THE STATION FORCE PROVIDED TRAINING, ADMINISTRATIVE AND LOGISTIC SUPPORT, PROCURED EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES, SECURED THE SAFETY, MAINTAINED THE FACILITIES, PAID THE BILLS, AND MORE. FOR THE DURATION OF WWII, WAS STATIONED AT THE SEABEES HEADQUARTERS OUTSIDE OXNARD, CALIFORNIA. ASSIGNED TO THE COMMISSARY OFFICE AND PERFORMED BOOKKEEPING DUTIES IN THE COMMISSARY DEPARTMENT HANDLING THE PROVISIONS LEDGER. WAS PROMOTED FROM SEAMAN 1ST CLASS, TO 3RD CLASS STOREKEEPER, JULY 1943; JUNE 1944 TO 2ND CLASS STOREKEEPER, AND TO 1ST CLASS STOREKEEPER IN JULY OF 1944. SHIPPED OVER IN THE NAVAL RESERVE NOVEMBER 7, 1946, WITH THE RANK OF PETTY OFFICER 1ST CLASS.