World War II Honoree

Harold Davis Einarsen

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Fort Collins, Colorado

Honored By

Dawn Brent

Relationship

Daughter

AFTER FRESHMAN YEAR IN COLLEGE, HE JOINED THE NAVY RESERVES AND WAS OFF TO BOOT CAMP IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. HE HAD THE MOST EDUCATION OF ANYONE IN HIS COMPANY OF 360 MEN, SO HE WAS MADE PLATOON LEADER OF THE 1ST PLATOON. WHEN THE TIME ARRIVED TO FINISH BOOT CAMP, THE PLATOON LEADERS WERE PULLED AND SENT TO PLATOON COMMANDER SCHOOL FOR FURTHER TRAINING. HE RECEIVED LEAVE AFTER TRAINING. WHEN HE RETURNED, THE WAR WITH JAPAN HAD ENDED AND THE MILITARY HAD STOPPED ASSIGNING NAVY RESERVISTS TO SHIPS. HE WAS SENT TO SAN FRANCISCO TO AWAIT PERMANENT ASSIGNMENT. HE WAS FINALLY SENT TO TACOMA, WASHINGTON AND STATIONED AT 19TH FLEET HEADQUARTERS. HIS JOB WAS PULLING AIRCRAFT CARRIERS INTO 'MOTHBALLS' FOR STORAGE FOR THE FUTURE. HE COVERED ALL THE GUNS, WINDLASSES AND WINCHES WITH MASKING TAPE AND SPRAYED PLASTIC MATERIAL ON THEM FOR FURTHER PROTECTION. AFTER BEING IN TACOMA, HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO SEATTLE, WASHINGTON WHERE HE REPEATED THE SAME PROCESS ON AIRCRAFT CARRIERS THERE. HE CHOSE TO BE DISCHARGED AFTER SERVING ONE YEAR, BUT WAS COMMITTED TO SERVE 3 MORE YEARS IN THE NAVY RESERVE, WHICH CONSISTED OF TRAINING ONCE A WEEK AT DENVER FEDERAL CENTER.