Mr. Sherven also shared his excitement about being promoted to electrician's mate 3rd class aboard the U.S.S. Arizona. "...quite a change especially in pay. I jumped from 36 to 60 bucks a month. There's some real liberties ahead," he wrote.
In his short letter to Harold Skogstad back in Sanish, North Dakota, he also mentioned that it was impossible to pick up a girl in Hawaii. "There's a damn good supply of cat houses here," he wrote, then added "but I don't go in for that kind of muggin' very much." Indeed, plenty of young Navy men were disappointed to discover that Hawaii wasn't an island paradise full of women; there were 138 males for every 100 females in 1940.
Mr. Sherven was born Nov. 29, 1921, in McKenzie County in far northwest North Dakota. His father, Helge, was a farmer and Norwegian immigrant. His mother, Marie, was a homemaker.
Mr. Sherven was in school in early 1940 and working as a high school janitor. He enlisted on Oct. 8, 1940.
There is a cenotaph in his memory at Good Hope Cemetery in McKenzie County, North Dakota. His parents are buried there.
Sources: Harold Skogstad papers at the State Historical Society of North Dakota; Census; Navy muster roll. This profile was researched and written on behalf of the U.S.S. Arizona Mall Memorial at the University of Arizona.
Contributor: USS Arizona Mall Memorial at University of Arizona (50022871)
Mr. Sherven also shared his excitement about being promoted to electrician's mate 3rd class aboard the U.S.S. Arizona. "...quite a change especially in pay. I jumped from 36 to 60 bucks a month. There's some real liberties ahead," he wrote.
In his short letter to Harold Skogstad back in Sanish, North Dakota, he also mentioned that it was impossible to pick up a girl in Hawaii. "There's a damn good supply of cat houses here," he wrote, then added "but I don't go in for that kind of muggin' very much." Indeed, plenty of young Navy men were disappointed to discover that Hawaii wasn't an island paradise full of women; there were 138 males for every 100 females in 1940.
Mr. Sherven was born Nov. 29, 1921, in McKenzie County in far northwest North Dakota. His father, Helge, was a farmer and Norwegian immigrant. His mother, Marie, was a homemaker.
Mr. Sherven was in school in early 1940 and working as a high school janitor. He enlisted on Oct. 8, 1940.
There is a cenotaph in his memory at Good Hope Cemetery in McKenzie County, North Dakota. His parents are buried there.
Sources: Harold Skogstad papers at the State Historical Society of North Dakota; Census; Navy muster roll. This profile was researched and written on behalf of the U.S.S. Arizona Mall Memorial at the University of Arizona.
Contributor: USS Arizona Mall Memorial at University of Arizona (50022871)
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from North Dakota.
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement