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Adapted from "Ensign Anfrew Curtis Euhlinger, U. S. N. R., Deceased" [biography, dated 05 August 1947] in Biographies, 20th century collection, Navy Department Library.

Topic
  • Theater of Operations--Pacific
Document Type
  • Biography
Wars & Conflicts
  • World War II 1939-1945
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Location of Archival Materials

Andrew Curtis Uhrenholdt

18 August 1920 - 7 December 1941

Ensign Uhrenholdt was born on 18 August 1920, in Hayward, Wisconsin. He attended Ely Junior College at Ely, Minnesota, prior to his enlistment as Apprentice Seaman in the United States Naval Reserve at Minneapolis, Minnesota. He had active training duty aboard USS Arkansas in October 1940, and was honorably discharged on 21 November 1940, to accept an appointment as Midshipman in the Naval Reserve. From 22 November 1940 to 27 February 1941, he had instruction at the Naval Reserve Midshipman’s School, New York, New York, and on 28 February 1941, executed acceptance and oath of office as Ensign, USNR, to rank from that date.

Ordered on 28 February 1941 to active duty, Ensign Uhrenholdt reported on 18 March 1941 to Headquarters, Twelfth Naval District, at San Francisco, California. He was assigned to USS Arizona, flagship of Rear Admiral I. C. Kidd, USN, Commander, Battleship Division One, Battle Force, US Fleet, and in command of Captain Franklin Van Valkenburgh, USN.

On 7 December 1941, when the Japanese made their early morning surprise attack on the Army and Naval Air bases in the Hawaiian Area, enemy aircraft swung in from various sectors to concentrate on the heavy ships at Pearl Harbor. The Arizona was hit by a torpedo on the portside, a large bomb went down the stack, and another hit the forecastle, penetrated to a powder magazine. The resulting explosion in turn exploded the Arizona's main forward magazines, and the 32,600-ton battleship blew up, her loss by far the heaviest of all the ships in the harbor during that savage attack.

Ensign Uhrenholdt was first listed as missing in action, and shortly thereafter was officially declared killed in action, by the Navy Department. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart Medal which was presented to his next of kin.

Ensign Uhrenholdt was survived by his parents, Mr. Jens Uhrenholdt and Mrs. Blanche Ruth (McCombs) Uhrenholdt.

[END]
Published: Thu Feb 28 09:39:44 EST 2019