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GM3c Max June Harstoe
Max June Hartsoe and his twin, Vernon Julius, were born April 16, 1921 in Cardwell in southeast Missouri, to Otho Hartsoe, a barber, and Bertha Underwood Hartsoe, a homemaker.
The boys graduated from the local high school in 1939. Max left Cardwell, a town of about 900 in the boot heel of the state, to enlist in the Navy that September. Vernon followed their father into barbering.
Max was a gunner’s mate and petty officer third class on the U.S.S. Arizona when he was killed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941.
When he was officially declared dead in May 1942, Vernon also volunteered for the Navy. He returned to Missouri in 1946 to resume barbering. He died in 1996.
Sources: Sikeston (Missouri) Standard; Blytheville (Arkansas) Courier News; Missouri marriage license; Census; Navy muster roll; Veterans Administration. This profile was researched and written on behalf of the U.S.S. Arizona Mall Memorial at the University of Arizona.
NOTE: If you are a family member related to this crew member of the U.S.S. Arizona, or have additional information, pictures or documents to share about his life or service to our county please contact us through our FAMILY MEMBER SUBMISSION FORM.