Gordon Ellsworth Linbo was born June 23, 1914 in Aneta, North Dakota. His parents were Richard Linbo, a Norwegian immigrant, and Clara Palmer Linbo, a North Dakota native.

The family moved to Centralia, Washington south of Olympia in about 1915 and the father took a job as a tinner at a sheet metal shop. The son graduated from Centralia High School in 1933.

He enlisted in the Navy on March 22, 1934 by July was aboard the U.S.S. Arizona.

He married Doris Harstad in April 1940 in California and they made their permanent home in Tacoma, Washington. Though the Arizona’s home mainland port was at San Pedro, California, the battleship often visited the Puget Sound Navy Yard north of Tacoma for repairs.

Mr. Linbo was a gunner’s mate and petty officer first class when he was killed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941.

His brother, Leslie, served in the Army during World War II.

Sources: Photos & Documents courtesy of  grand nephew Dan Shuffield, The Daily Chronicle of Centralia, Washington; U.S. Veterans Administration master index; Census; California marriage record; Navy muster roll; Army enlistment record.