Individual Details

Military

Willard enlisted into the U.S. Navy on July 22, 1942, and was placed into active service in Minneapolis, MN, on Dec 23, 1942. After serving for 3 years, 7 months, 25 days, he received an honorable discharge from the US Naval Personnel Separation Center in Shelton, VA on March 25, 1946. His serial number was 701 48 64.
He served at the University of Iowa in Iowa City; US NAS in Oakland, CA; NAS in Corpus Christi, CA; USNTS in Great Lakes, IL; and the US NAS in Norfolk, VA.
Three medals were given to him: American Area, Victory World War II, and Good Conduct, and he was issued an Honorable Service Lapel button.

Marriage

Willard and Lois were married at St. Stephen's and the Incarnation Episcopal Church in Washington, DC.

Nationality

Just a month or so before Willard died, I (his youngest daughter Carol) asked him how to spell some of the Finnish words he'd taught me when I was a pre-schooler. His brother Bill and he consulted each other and came up with some spellings, though they sometimes changed their minds about a particular spelling. Here are those words: ihsi ( or yhsi--one), kaksi (two), kalemä ( or kolme--three), neliä ( or neljä--four), vesei (or viisi--five), kusi (or kuusi--six), seitsemän (seven), husika (outhouse), kitos or kiitos--(thank you), raka nuko (snotty nose), baska housu ("soiled" pants), coffee leipä (food eaten with coffee), huivi (scarf worn about the head), and rusina velia (raisin soup). His first language was Finnish--he didn't learn English until he entered first grade. Though he was never taught how to write Finnish, he could read it. When he and wife Lois went to Finland in the early 1990s, Willard was pleased that the local people were impressed that he, a second generation American, could speak Finnish so will, even though it was the Finnish that was spoken in Finland over 100 years prior and thus was considered "old".