Arvi Aatto Karno was born in Abo, Finland on December 8, 1890.
During WWI, he registered for the draft in the U.S. At that time he lived on Staten Island, and gave his occupation as a ships rigger, with his place of employment as Mariner's Harbor. He stated his nearest relative was Peter Karna of Abo, Finland. He was of medium height and weight, with blue eyes.
Arvi worked as a sailor throughout the 1920's, 1930's and 1940's. Some of the ships that he journeyed on were the Roumanie, Konigstein, Parismina, Ulua, Tela, and the Princ Pavle. He made port in such exotic locales as Havana, Santiago, Rotterdam, Kingston, Port Limon and Halifax. In 1942 Arvi registered for the WWII draft. At that time he was living on Bleecker St. in New York City, and was unemployed.
In 1956, at the age of 65, Arvi petitioned for Naturalization through the New York Southern District Court.
Arvi Aatto Karna died March 1, 1981, and was buried on Hart Island.
Sources: U.S. Social Security Death Index; New York Index to Petitions for Naturalization Filed in New York City, 1792-1989; U.S. WWI Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918; U.S. WWII Draft and Registration Cards, 1942; New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957; California Passenger and Crew Lists, 1882-1959; New Orleans Passenger Lists, 1813-1963; New York State Passenger and Crew Lists, 1917-1974.