World War II Honoree

Orval E. Aylesworth

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Lake Stevens, Washington

Honored By

American Legion Post 181

HE WAS A PEARL HARBOR SURVIVOR. HE ENLISTED IN THE U.S. NAVY ON SEPTEMBER 13, 1939. ON DECEMBER 7, 1941, HE WAS ONBOARD THE USS WEST VIRGINIA. THE FIRST BOMB HIT, AND MOMENTS LATER A TORPEDO STRUCK THE SHIP. HE WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS AND WOKE UP ON THE HOSPITAL SHIP THE NEXT DAY. HE ALSO SPENT EIGHT MONTHS ON A MOTOR LAUNCH THAT TRANSPORTED AMMUNITION TO SHIPS. AFTER THAT HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE USS ANCON. IN ALL, HE WAS IN FIVE INVASIONS IN EUROPE, AFRICA, AND THE PACIFIC, CASABLANCA, SICILY, ITALY, NORMANDY AND OKINAWA.