Honoring a century

Happy 100th birthday, Al

Allan “Al” Chatwin turns 100 on January 17, 2026.

Al’s story

Petty Officer 3rd Class Allan (Al) Chatwin was born on January 17, 1926, in Williamsville, New York. When Pearl Harbor was attacked, he was 15 years old and understood the gravity of what it meant for the United States.

Al was drafted into the U.S. Navy in 1944 and began basic training at Canandaigua Lake, New York. Afterward, he was sent to radio school in Tennessee, but it wasn’t the right fit, and he went on to become a yeoman.

He served on guard duty at the Naval Operating Base Guam, which functioned as a receiving station during the war, handling ships moving in and out of the area of operation. Al served in multiple roles as needed, including mess cook, guard duty, and supply, helping ensure that people and cargo got where they were needed.

In total, Al served 2 years, 1 month, and 11 days during World War II.

After the war, he completed his GED and attended the School of Electronics using his GI Bill. He later worked as a chief engineer for a satellite communications company and, in the 1970s, built the first satellite station in Hawaii, enabling the first live football game on television in the islands.

How you can help us honor Al

If you’d like to be part of celebrating Al’s 100th, here are a few simple ways to participate.