Theodore Aamod
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Navy
The Aamodt twins of Hibbing enlisted in the Navy Oct. 16, 1940. After training at Great Lakes, Illinois, and at Machinist Mate School in Dearborn, Michigan, they both served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga (CV3) in the Pacific Theater. They both changed their specialty to Electrician's Mate and later were promoted to become Chief Petty Officers. During their service aboard the Saratoga, it took part in nine major campaigns, including Iwo Jima, where five Japanese kamikaze planes dived into the carrier's flight deck and seven bombs found their mark on the ship. Casualties included 123 dead or missing out of a crew of 3,000. The twins each were awarded the Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal with star (for service prior to the Pearl Harbor attack), American Campaign Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Service Medal with 11 battle stars and the World War II Victory Medal. They were discharged on November 30, 1946.
