World War II Honoree

David Louis Aarhaus

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Elma, Washington

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: SHIP FITTER 2ND CLASS. SERVED AS A SHIP FITTER ABOARD THE SUBMARINE TENDER, USS CANOPUS AS-9 ASSIGNED TO THE SUBMARINE SQUADRON 20 IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. DURING THE INVASION OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS BY THE JAPANESE ARMED FORCES, HIS SHIP, BADLY DAMAGED FROM DIRECT BOMB STRIKES WAS SCUTTLED AND SUNK APRIL 9, 1942. HE WAS EVACUATED TO CORREGIDOR AND SERVED IN THE 4TH MARINE REGIMENT, 4TH BATTALION RESERVES ‘PROVISIONAL’ AND FOUGHT GALLANTLY DURING THE FINAL BATTLE OF THE ISLAND FORTRESS AND WAS KILLED IN ACTION, MAY 6, 1942. HE WAS BURIED ON CORREGIDOR UNTIL THE END OF THE WAR AND THEN INTERRED AT HIS HOMETOWN, ELMA, WASHINGTON.