Elroy Vernon Peterson was born in 1916 or 1917 in North Dakota. His father, Marcus Peterson, was a railroad laborer, and his mother, Julia Augusa Peterson, a homemaker. The parents were immigrants -- he from Denmark and she from Norway.
The father’s first wife died in 1909, leaving him with two small children. He then married Julia and they had five children before she died in 1933. He died less than four years later.
Elroy Peterson enlisted in the Navy in July 12, 1935. He was a fire controlman second class on the U.S.S. Arizona when he was killed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941.
He was survived by his widow, Clara Stai Peterson, and a 16-month-old son. At the time of his death they were living in San Pedro, California, home port for the Arizona. Her parents lived in Wyndmere, North Dakota, a town of about 500 where Elroy Peterson also lived at one time.
Sources: the Fargo (North Dakota) Forum; the San Pedro (California) News Pilot; Census; Navy muster roll.
(From USS Arizona Mall Memorial Facebook Page)
The father’s first wife died in 1909, leaving him with two small children. He then married Julia and they had five children before she died in 1933. He died less than four years later.
Elroy Peterson enlisted in the Navy in July 12, 1935. He was a fire controlman second class on the U.S.S. Arizona when he was killed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941.
He was survived by his widow, Clara Stai Peterson, and a 16-month-old son. At the time of his death they were living in San Pedro, California, home port for the Arizona. Her parents lived in Wyndmere, North Dakota, a town of about 500 where Elroy Peterson also lived at one time.
Sources: the Fargo (North Dakota) Forum; the San Pedro (California) News Pilot; Census; Navy muster roll.
(From USS Arizona Mall Memorial Facebook Page)
Elroy Vernon Peterson was born in 1916 or 1917 in North Dakota. His father, Marcus Peterson, was a railroad laborer, and his mother, Julia Augusa Peterson, a homemaker. The parents were immigrants -- he from Denmark and she from Norway.
The father’s first wife died in 1909, leaving him with two small children. He then married Julia and they had five children before she died in 1933. He died less than four years later.
Elroy Peterson enlisted in the Navy in July 12, 1935. He was a fire controlman second class on the U.S.S. Arizona when he was killed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941.
He was survived by his widow, Clara Stai Peterson, and a 16-month-old son. At the time of his death they were living in San Pedro, California, home port for the Arizona. Her parents lived in Wyndmere, North Dakota, a town of about 500 where Elroy Peterson also lived at one time.
Sources: the Fargo (North Dakota) Forum; the San Pedro (California) News Pilot; Census; Navy muster roll.
(From USS Arizona Mall Memorial Facebook Page)
The father’s first wife died in 1909, leaving him with two small children. He then married Julia and they had five children before she died in 1933. He died less than four years later.
Elroy Peterson enlisted in the Navy in July 12, 1935. He was a fire controlman second class on the U.S.S. Arizona when he was killed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941.
He was survived by his widow, Clara Stai Peterson, and a 16-month-old son. At the time of his death they were living in San Pedro, California, home port for the Arizona. Her parents lived in Wyndmere, North Dakota, a town of about 500 where Elroy Peterson also lived at one time.
Sources: the Fargo (North Dakota) Forum; the San Pedro (California) News Pilot; Census; Navy muster roll.
(From USS Arizona Mall Memorial Facebook Page)
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from North Dakota.
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