Richard L. "Hal" Halverson

Halverson, Richard L. "Hal" LEMON GROVE -- Richard L. "Hal" Halverson was born on November 24, 1916 in Lewistown, Montana. He passed peacefully at home surrounded by his family and loving wife of 67 years on December 19, 2013 in Lemon Grove, California. He was the son of Arthur M. Halverson and Violet Black. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 19 in July 1936. He was a graduate of Pensacola and was Commissioned as an Officer in June 1942. He had a distinguished career as a Photographic Officer, combat photographer, and instructor in naval aerial photography at Pearl Harbor. He received the following medals and campaign ribbons: Good Conduct; Asiatic-Pacific; American Defense; American Th.; National Defense; WWII Victory; Antarctica Service Medal. He also received the 50th Anniversary Pearl Harbor Commemorative medal. On Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941, at Pearl Harbor, Hal was then a young sailor and was taking flying lessons. He was up early that Sunday because he had his final solo flight for a private pilot license when he heard airplanes and said to himself, "We don't fly on Sunday." After hearing gunfire from the planes, he ran outside and saw the "Rising Sun" on the planes. He knew then that they were Japanese. He woke up the other sailors in the barracks. They dressed quickly and headed for their posts. Hal, a combat photographer, was on his way to the photo lab when a chief told him to go to the hangars, amid torpedoes and bombs coming down, and document the attack. Hal couldn't believe what was happening, seeing the ships going down one by one in the harbor. He later became an Ensign stationed to Kaneohe Naval Base. He met his beautiful wife Geneva "Jennie" at Kaneohe Naval Base, Oahu, Hawaii. He was a Lt. Junior Grade and Jennie was in the USN Waves. Hal and Jennie were married in October 1946, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, Kailua, a territory of Hawaii. In 1957, Hal was assigned to Task Force 43 ("Operation Deep Freeze") as the Executive Officer to winter in Antarctica with a group of international scientists. In 1958, he was stationed at the U.S. Naval Photographic Center in Washington, D.C. After proudly serving his country for 28 years in the Navy and 6 years in U.S. Naval Photographic Center in Washington, D.C., Hal retired as a Lieutenant Commander in 1964. Hal, Jennie, and their two sons moved back to their home in Lemon Grove and as parishioner of St. John of the Cross church. Hal was an active member of the church and served in different ministries at St. John of the Cross church. After retiring from the Navy, Hal became a Realtor and a member of the La Mesa Board of Realtors; attended college at Grossmont Community College and made the Dean's list; and joined the faculty at Granite Hills High School where he was the fearless leader of the Media Center. Hal retired after 12 years as a faculty member from Granite Hills High School. After his second retirement, Hal became more active in the Church and was an altar server in the bereavement ministry and served for many years in the Food Bank program. Hal is survived by his beloved bride of 67 years, Geneva G. Halverson; his son and wife, Gary and Leticia Halverson; his son, James Halverson; his grandchildren Scott, Ryan, Jamie, and Heather Halverson; his great-grandchildren, Braedon Halverson and Kendall Becker. Mass will be held on Wednesday, January 8, 2014, at 10:00 a.m., at St. John of the Cross, 8086 Broadway, Lemon Grove, CA 91945, with a lunch reception following Mass at the church's hall. He will be inurned on January 8, 2014, at 2:30 p.m., at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, Cabrillo Memorial Drive, San Diego, CA 92106. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers contributions can be made to a memorial fund which has been established at St. John of the Cross.