- Name: Arthur Rudolph Korhonen
- Location of Birth: Leipold, Swan River, Minnesota
- Date of Birth: February 22, 1925
- Date of Death: February 24, 2020 (95 years old)
- Parents: Toivo and Lydia Korhonen
- High School and Class:
- College:
- Highest Rank: S 1 (Seaman First Class)
- Branch: Navy
- Other Branch:
- Date Sworn In: November 2, 1943
- Place Sworn In: Federal Building - Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date of Discharge: January 16, 1946
- Place of Discharge: Federal Building - Minneapolis, Minnesota
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Units and Locations:
Start Date End Date Unit(s) and Location(s) Served November, 1943 March, 1944 Camp Perry, Virginia March, 1944 August, 1944 Camp Endicot, Davisville, Rhode Island August, 1944 October, 1944 Port Hueneme, Oxnard, California October, 1944 October, 1945 Saipon, Marianna Islands October, 1945 December, 1945 Yokasuka, Japan - left for home on Christmas Eve December, 1945 January, 1946 Seattle, Washington (to wait for transportation home). He was told at Seattle that it could be a 2 week wait. Left that same day at midnight on a passenger train. Took 3-4 days to get to Minneapolis, Minnesota. January, 1946 January, 1946 Minneapolis, Minnesota (final separation) - Military Awards:
- Military Highlights:
Arthur R. Korhonen, age 94, enlisted in the Navy, Seabees Branch, in November, 1943 at the age of 18 and was honorably discharged in January, 1946. He shipped out from Port Hueneme in California and was stationed in the Marianna Islands in the South Pacific. He states appreciatively that the Marines went in ahead of them and literally saved their lives. His battalion was scheduled for the invasion and United States occupation of Japan when the atomic bombs were dropped. Japan surrendered and Arthur said the Japanese Emperor told his troops to "lay down your arms", an order which was met with no resistance. His Seabees Unit proceeded to Japan to build and get a bar set up and once that task was complete, it was time to go home. (Since there were not enough ships to transport all military personnel home at the same time, waiting became a lot more tolerable with the bar completed!) It was a 16-day trip across the ocean to return to Seattle, Washington and the United States soil. Arthur's parents had all three sons serving in the military during World War II at the same time.
He served in the South Pacific Islands of Japan, Tinian, and Guam. He was honorably discharged in January, 1946. - Wars Involved:
World War II - MIA / POW:
- Civilian Life:
Following discharge from the military, Arthur completed his GED and went to school to become an electrician, a career which he worked at with United States Steel until retirement. He has a son, Gary, in Grand Rapids, Minnesota and a daughter, Linda, in Babbitt, Minnesota along with 2 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.
Arthur Korhonen attended the Maki and Wawina small country schools and then graduated from Duluth Central High School.
After his discharge, he returned to Duluth, Minnesota where he attended Duluth Business University to earn his electrician's certificate.
Art was employed with United States Steel for his entire career, until his retirement in 1983.
Art enjoyed playing golf, bowling and attending Seabees reunions. He was an avid sport fan, especially of the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. He was very organized, methodical, and very well read. Art was a member of the VFW, American Legion, and Zion Lutheran Church.
Art was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Clarice; two brothers, William and Elmer; and sister, Helen Jerome.
Art is survived by his daughter, Linda (Frank) Korhonen-Brula; son, Gary; two grandchildren; four great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Inurnment will be in Sago Cemetery at Swan River, Minnesota. - Tribal Affiliation(s):