Harold Davis Arbon

Harold Davis Arbon was born Oct 5, 1919 in Malad, Idaho to Joseph Nicholas and Elizabeth Griffiths Davis Arbon. Harold was a veteran of World War II.

History

"Born ... on a ranch in Idaho, Harold had many chores, attended a one room school house, and loved taking sleigh rides in the winter.  One of his very first jobs was starting the fire in the pot-bellied stove to warm the school before the other students arrived.  For this he was paid .50 cents per month which he saved and bought a bridle for his Shetland pony, Sparky. 

"His father was not only a rancher who raised crops and livestock, he was also a Deacon in their church.  So Harold learned at an early age not only the importance of educational and physical growth, but that of Spiritual belief.  He put all three to good use in his life.

"Life on the ranch was fairly routine.  Work, work, work, plus school six days a week, and church on Sunday.  But young Harold thrived and pursued the past times of fishing and hunting."

After graduating from high school, Harold moved to Salt Lake City, Utah to attend the University of Utah in the Civilian Pilot Training Program. While attending flight school in the military, Harold married Ardyth Gilbert on June 30, 1942 in Pocatello, Idaho.

After his military service, Harold returned to school at Idaho State University, obtaining a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy in 1948. After graduation, the Arbon family moved to Salt Lake City. In 1954, Harold and Ardyth divorced. Harold soon remarried Lael Nelson on July 10, 1954 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

"In 1954, Harold was accepted to Dental School in Kansas City.  While attending dental school full time, he also continued to work as a pharmacist to support his family with a lot of help from his second wife, Lael. Their hard work paid off handsomely when Harold graduated from the University of Missouri Dental School in June of 1958.  And by this time, Harold was being teased about being a "professional student" but it didn't bother him.  From just a young boy, he always loved school.

"Having passed the State Dental Board Examinations of both Utah and California, Harold and his wife Lael and daughters Diane and Denise had to decide where they wanted to live and they chose to settle in California."

Military Service

"Harold was at his parents home on December 7, 1941, when he heard the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor.  Just six days before he was to report for induction into the U.S. Army Air Corp. at Salt Lake City on December 13th."

Harold attended flight school in Ontario, California, where, after he passed, he was assigned to Luke Field in Phoenix, Arizona, for advanced flight school training. After graduation on June 23, 1942, Harold was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant as a flight instructor for the AT-6 aircraft. After a year, Harold sought a chance to be more than an instructor, and was transferred to Hobbs, New Mexico to be an instructor for the B-17 to his disappointment. 

After some time, Harold received news that he would be transferred to Clovis Air Field, New Mexico, to fly the B-29. He trained with his new team until April 1944 and was transferred to Walker Field, Kansas. While at Walker Field, Harold was promoted to 1st Lieutenant.

"Initially, no B-29s were available [at Walker Field] and the crews trained on B-17s.  But B-29s did begin to arrive, and Harold said the first one he saw was so big he 'didn't think it could fly.'  He also didn't notice the recessed landing lights on the superfortress and said 'I guess it is too large to fly at night.'  Of course, he soon learned otherwise."

In December 1944, Harold's team was sent to Kearney, Nebraska where they were to go to Saipan, a small island north of Guam in the Pacific Ocean. He and his crew were sent to Japan and had 35 bombing missions.

Harold returned to the United States in July 1945 and was honorably discharged on May 4, 1946.

Epilogue