LT US NAVY
MCPO US NAVY
WORLD WAR II, KOREA, VIETNAM
Kenneth J. Garrigan died on March 5, 2014 in Coronado from complications following surgery. He was 91 years old. He was born in Charleroi, PA, but raised in Columbus, OH and lived the last forty-five years of his life in Coronado.
A member of the CCC at seventeen, he enlisted in the US Navy after he turned eighteen in the summer of 1941 and completed his training as an Aviation Radioman at NAS North Island just before the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was immediately assigned to Scouting 2, flying in SBD dive bombers off the original USS Lexington (CV-2), and six months later was swimming for his life as USS Lexington was sinking in the Battle of the Coral Sea.
He was rescued, trained aircrews for a period, and in 1943 was transferred to VC-41, a composite squadron flying TBM torpedo bombers from USS Corregidor (CVE-58). He participated in multiple air campaigns across the South Pacific – notably the invasions of Kwajalein, Saipan, Guam and the Gilbert Islands – through the end of the war.
For his actions during World War II, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and five Air Medals, among others.
- Coronado Eagle and Journal, March 19, 2014
He chose to continue his military service following the war, but, due to an eye injury, was taken off flight status and trained as an air traffic controller. His many duty stations over thirty-years included Barber’s Point (Honolulu), Midway Island, Pensacola, and Jacksonville, concluding at the same place it began, NAS North Island.
Following his Navy career, he worked for the County of San Diego for seventeen years, initially as a Court Clerk and, ultimately, Chief of the Business Division of the Superior Court.
In civilian life, he was a commercial pilot and certified flight instructor (CFII and MEI) in both fixed wing and helicopters. He was also an avid golfer as a member of Sea ‘N Air at North Island, despite being convinced his clubs never worked properly. Later, he took great pride in being an active participant with the Senior Volunteer Patrol (SVP) in Coronado.
A devout Catholic, although he never quite came to terms with Vatican II, he was alternately a member of the Sacred Heart parish in Coronado and St. Anne’s in San Diego.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth, and is survived by his son, Mark, of Tempe, AZ, sister, Dorothy Rueger, of Evansville, IN and cousin, Mim Saurers, of Louisville, OH. He will be interred with his wife at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery at a later date. At his specific request, no memorial services are planned.
MCPO US NAVY
WORLD WAR II, KOREA, VIETNAM
Kenneth J. Garrigan died on March 5, 2014 in Coronado from complications following surgery. He was 91 years old. He was born in Charleroi, PA, but raised in Columbus, OH and lived the last forty-five years of his life in Coronado.
A member of the CCC at seventeen, he enlisted in the US Navy after he turned eighteen in the summer of 1941 and completed his training as an Aviation Radioman at NAS North Island just before the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was immediately assigned to Scouting 2, flying in SBD dive bombers off the original USS Lexington (CV-2), and six months later was swimming for his life as USS Lexington was sinking in the Battle of the Coral Sea.
He was rescued, trained aircrews for a period, and in 1943 was transferred to VC-41, a composite squadron flying TBM torpedo bombers from USS Corregidor (CVE-58). He participated in multiple air campaigns across the South Pacific – notably the invasions of Kwajalein, Saipan, Guam and the Gilbert Islands – through the end of the war.
For his actions during World War II, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and five Air Medals, among others.
- Coronado Eagle and Journal, March 19, 2014
He chose to continue his military service following the war, but, due to an eye injury, was taken off flight status and trained as an air traffic controller. His many duty stations over thirty-years included Barber’s Point (Honolulu), Midway Island, Pensacola, and Jacksonville, concluding at the same place it began, NAS North Island.
Following his Navy career, he worked for the County of San Diego for seventeen years, initially as a Court Clerk and, ultimately, Chief of the Business Division of the Superior Court.
In civilian life, he was a commercial pilot and certified flight instructor (CFII and MEI) in both fixed wing and helicopters. He was also an avid golfer as a member of Sea ‘N Air at North Island, despite being convinced his clubs never worked properly. Later, he took great pride in being an active participant with the Senior Volunteer Patrol (SVP) in Coronado.
A devout Catholic, although he never quite came to terms with Vatican II, he was alternately a member of the Sacred Heart parish in Coronado and St. Anne’s in San Diego.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth, and is survived by his son, Mark, of Tempe, AZ, sister, Dorothy Rueger, of Evansville, IN and cousin, Mim Saurers, of Louisville, OH. He will be interred with his wife at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery at a later date. At his specific request, no memorial services are planned.
LT US NAVY
MCPO US NAVY
WORLD WAR II, KOREA, VIETNAM
Kenneth J. Garrigan died on March 5, 2014 in Coronado from complications following surgery. He was 91 years old. He was born in Charleroi, PA, but raised in Columbus, OH and lived the last forty-five years of his life in Coronado.
A member of the CCC at seventeen, he enlisted in the US Navy after he turned eighteen in the summer of 1941 and completed his training as an Aviation Radioman at NAS North Island just before the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was immediately assigned to Scouting 2, flying in SBD dive bombers off the original USS Lexington (CV-2), and six months later was swimming for his life as USS Lexington was sinking in the Battle of the Coral Sea.
He was rescued, trained aircrews for a period, and in 1943 was transferred to VC-41, a composite squadron flying TBM torpedo bombers from USS Corregidor (CVE-58). He participated in multiple air campaigns across the South Pacific – notably the invasions of Kwajalein, Saipan, Guam and the Gilbert Islands – through the end of the war.
For his actions during World War II, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and five Air Medals, among others.
- Coronado Eagle and Journal, March 19, 2014
He chose to continue his military service following the war, but, due to an eye injury, was taken off flight status and trained as an air traffic controller. His many duty stations over thirty-years included Barber’s Point (Honolulu), Midway Island, Pensacola, and Jacksonville, concluding at the same place it began, NAS North Island.
Following his Navy career, he worked for the County of San Diego for seventeen years, initially as a Court Clerk and, ultimately, Chief of the Business Division of the Superior Court.
In civilian life, he was a commercial pilot and certified flight instructor (CFII and MEI) in both fixed wing and helicopters. He was also an avid golfer as a member of Sea ‘N Air at North Island, despite being convinced his clubs never worked properly. Later, he took great pride in being an active participant with the Senior Volunteer Patrol (SVP) in Coronado.
A devout Catholic, although he never quite came to terms with Vatican II, he was alternately a member of the Sacred Heart parish in Coronado and St. Anne’s in San Diego.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth, and is survived by his son, Mark, of Tempe, AZ, sister, Dorothy Rueger, of Evansville, IN and cousin, Mim Saurers, of Louisville, OH. He will be interred with his wife at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery at a later date. At his specific request, no memorial services are planned.
MCPO US NAVY
WORLD WAR II, KOREA, VIETNAM
Kenneth J. Garrigan died on March 5, 2014 in Coronado from complications following surgery. He was 91 years old. He was born in Charleroi, PA, but raised in Columbus, OH and lived the last forty-five years of his life in Coronado.
A member of the CCC at seventeen, he enlisted in the US Navy after he turned eighteen in the summer of 1941 and completed his training as an Aviation Radioman at NAS North Island just before the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was immediately assigned to Scouting 2, flying in SBD dive bombers off the original USS Lexington (CV-2), and six months later was swimming for his life as USS Lexington was sinking in the Battle of the Coral Sea.
He was rescued, trained aircrews for a period, and in 1943 was transferred to VC-41, a composite squadron flying TBM torpedo bombers from USS Corregidor (CVE-58). He participated in multiple air campaigns across the South Pacific – notably the invasions of Kwajalein, Saipan, Guam and the Gilbert Islands – through the end of the war.
For his actions during World War II, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and five Air Medals, among others.
- Coronado Eagle and Journal, March 19, 2014
He chose to continue his military service following the war, but, due to an eye injury, was taken off flight status and trained as an air traffic controller. His many duty stations over thirty-years included Barber’s Point (Honolulu), Midway Island, Pensacola, and Jacksonville, concluding at the same place it began, NAS North Island.
Following his Navy career, he worked for the County of San Diego for seventeen years, initially as a Court Clerk and, ultimately, Chief of the Business Division of the Superior Court.
In civilian life, he was a commercial pilot and certified flight instructor (CFII and MEI) in both fixed wing and helicopters. He was also an avid golfer as a member of Sea ‘N Air at North Island, despite being convinced his clubs never worked properly. Later, he took great pride in being an active participant with the Senior Volunteer Patrol (SVP) in Coronado.
A devout Catholic, although he never quite came to terms with Vatican II, he was alternately a member of the Sacred Heart parish in Coronado and St. Anne’s in San Diego.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth, and is survived by his son, Mark, of Tempe, AZ, sister, Dorothy Rueger, of Evansville, IN and cousin, Mim Saurers, of Louisville, OH. He will be interred with his wife at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery at a later date. At his specific request, no memorial services are planned.
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