Allen Kong Saiget

Allen Kong Saiget, 95, of La Mesa, CA peacefully passed away on Saturday, October 14, 2017. A devoted husband, loving father and well-liked by everyone, he is survived by his son, Steven; daughter-in-law, Antoinette; granddaughter Tiana; grandson, Trent; and brother, Wayne.

Allen was born in Astoria, Oregon in 1922. He was the eldest son of five children born to mother, Sue Ping and Kong Sai Get.

After graduating from Astoria High School in 1942, he attended the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles, California. However, the attack on Pearl Harbor soon followed his enrollment at the Art Center, and elected to enlist as a military photographer. In November 1942, he was assigned to March Field in Riverside, CA as a photo technician with the 31st Headquarter Base Squadron photo laboratory.

One year later, Allen was assigned to a B-24 Liberator bomb group with the 7th Air Force in the Central Pacific campaign that included bombing missions to Japanese-held islands of Ellice, Gilberts, Marshall and Marianas. The Air Force later determined that aerial photographers must accompany every bombing mission in order to assess the level of success for each bomb run, and sent out a call for volunteers. Allen immediately volunteered and flew missions to record bomb hits on the islands of Kwajalien, Turk, Saipan and Iwo Jima. Being responsible to record the results of these dangerous bomb runs required Allen’s aircraft to fly low and slow, making it the last one to exit the area. It is amazing how he and the crew survived all of these missions. Allen received two Distinguished Flying Cross Medals for his extraordinary achievements, as well as receiving his Air Combat Medal upon completion of his 40th (and last) mission on the U.S. Marines D-Day landing at Iwo Jima in February 1945.

After the war, Allen went to work at Northrop Aircraft as an industrial photographer in Hawthorne, CA, and progressed into management that included designing photo labs. In 1960, Allen joined the Aerospace Corporation then located in El Segundo, CA. During his career at the Aerospace Corporation, he was promoted to Chief of Presentation Services and transferred to the operations in San Bernardino, CA, supporting the US Air Force at Norton Air Base.

Toward the end of 1969, Allen was hired by Ryan Aeronautical in San Diego, CA to renovate their outdated photo labs and worked many assignments around the country, including some classified at the time. He made his last career move to Cubic Corporation in 1982 and finally retired in 1986.

Allen and his wife Esther enjoyed their retirement by traveling, which included motorhome trips with their dogs and cruises around the world. He became a full-time gardener specializing in vegetables, fruit trees, succulents and gourmet mesclun lettuce. In 1987, he was certified as a Master Gardener through the University of California San Diego, Horticulture Department extension program. One of his proudest achievements.

Allen and his wife were married for 55 years, until her death in 2007. Allen and Esther’s marriage was a true testament of their love for one another, and has influenced his son’s life and relationship with his wife who have been together for over 42 years in holy matrimony.

Inurnment services will be held at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in Point Loma, CA at 11:30 AM on Thursday, November 16, 2017. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made in memory of Allen to the Master Gardner Association of San Diego County. Checks should be made out to the “Master Gardener Association of San Diego County” and forwarded to the following address:

UCCE San Diego County Master Gardener Program

Attn: Al Saiget Memorial Donation

9335 Hazard Way, #201

San Diego, CA. 92123