Written by Matt Alexander @therealazmatt
In Grass Valley, California – Lou Conter, the last surviving crew member of the USS Arizona during the infamous attack on Pearl Harbor, has died at the age of 102. Conter, who bore witness to the Japanese assault that drew the United States into World War II, passed away at his home in Grass Valley, California, confirmed by Pacific Historic Parks.
Born in Ojibwa, Wisconsin, Conter enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1939 at the young age of 18. His role as a quartermaster on the USS Arizona thrust him into history as he began his shift at 7:45 a.m. on December 7, 1941, just moments before the Japanese assault commenced.
The USS Arizona was struck by a 1,760-pound Japanese armor-piercing bomb at exactly 8:09 a.m., followed by continued damage from Japanese horizontal bombers. The devastating explosion that ensued, attributed to the bomb igniting the ship’s ammunition stores, resulted in the loss of 1,177 lives, with Conter being one of 335 survivors aboard the battleship. Conter’s service extended beyond the attack on Pearl Harbor.
He entered flight school following the tragedy, becoming a pilot with the Navy Squadron known as the Black Cats. Despite being shot down twice over the Pacific, Conter survived the war and served as an air intelligence officer during the Korean War.
Upon returning home, Conter played a pivotal role in establishing the Navy’s first SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) program. His expertise and dedication led him to serve as a military adviser to Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon B. Johnson.
Today, Conter’s passing leaves fewer than two dozen survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor alive. Their stories serve as a testament to the resilience and sacrifice of those who served, ensuring that the legacy of Pearl Harbor lives on in the annals of history.