This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Kent Weekly (SS/DSV) (DBF), EMCS
to remember
Aurand, Evan Peter (Pete), VADM USN(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town New York, NY
Last Address Honolulu, HI
Date of Passing Jun 07, 1989
Location of Interment Buried at Sea, Pacific Ocean
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
After his Navy service, Evan Aurand was a safety inspector for Boeing Aircraft Company as wellas serving as a consultant for the Navy.
He was very active in his community. He was a lobbyist before the Hawaii State Legislature, the City Council, and other organizations. He was one of the founders of the Hawaii Leaseholders (HALE) Equity Coalition.he served as president of both the Maunaiua Triangle-Koko Kai Community Association and the Rotary Club of Hawaii Kai. Other board memberships included the Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board and the Honolulu Chamber of Commerce.
Other Comments:
Navy Cross
Awarded for Actions During World War II
Service: Navy
Battalion: Scouting Squadron 2 (VS-2)
Division: U.S.S. Lexington (CV-2)
Citation: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Evan Peter Aurand (NSN: 0-81177), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Scouting Plane in Scouting Squadron TWO (VS-2), attached to the U.S.S. LEXINGTON (CV-2), in action against enemy Japanese forces over enemy-controlled waters near Lae and Salamaua, New Guinea, on 10 March 1942. Lieutenant Aurand pressed home, in the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire, a vigorous and determined dive bombing attack on enemy ships, sinking one of them. His outstanding courage, daring airmanship and determined skill were at all times inspiring and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Central Pacific Campaign (1941-43)/Battle of Tarawa
From Month/Year
November / 1943
To Month/Year
November / 1943
Description The Battle of Tarawa (US code name Operation Galvanic) was a battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II, fought from November 20 to November 23, 1943. It took place at the Tarawa Atoll in the Gilbert Islands, located in what is now the nation of Kiribati. Nearly 6,400 Japanese, Koreans, and Americans died in the fighting, mostly on and around the small island of Betio.
The Battle of Tarawa was the first American offensive in the critical central Pacific region. It was also the first time in the war that the United States faced serious Japanese opposition to an amphibious landing. Previous landings met little or no initial resistance. but this time the 4,500 Japanese defenders were well-supplied and well-prepared, and they fought almost to the last man, exacting a heavy toll on the United States Marine Corps. The U.S. had suffered similar casualties in other campaigns, for example over the six months of the Guadalcanal Campaign, but in this case the losses were incurred within the space of 76 hours.