Are any survivors of the USS Arizona still alive?

Ken Potts

Ken Potts

Today's #VeteranOfTheDay is Navy Veteran Howard “Ken” Potts, who served on USS Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941.

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#VeteranOfTheDay Navy Veteran Howard “Ken” Potts - VAntage Point

, serving in the Navy in 1941 (left) and 80 years later (right) is one of two living survivors of the USS Arizona. Eighty years later he can still hear the sirens wailing from Battleship Row.

How many survivors of the Arizona are still alive?

Potts is one of only two living survivors of the U.S.S. Arizona. He lives in Provo, Utah, with his wife Doris. He still receives fan mail and special invitations from all over the country.

Who is the last survivor of the USS Arizona?

Lauren Bruner is the last survivor of the USS Arizona to have his remains interred on the submerged ship in Pearl Harbor. Loved ones gathered at sunset at the USS Arizona Memorial in Honolulu. Family and friends handed Bruner's ashes over to divers who placed the urn inside the well of the barbette on gun turret No. 4.

Are there any survivors from Pearl Harbor still alive?

As we prepare to enter 2022, the total number of Pearl Harbor survivors is estimated to be less than 1,500 — the youngest of whom would be 97. Of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II, only 240,000 were still alive in 2021, only 25,000 in California, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Are there still human remains on the USS Arizona?

The majority of those have never been recovered from the wreckage. According to DPAA, their remains are entombed in the USS Arizona Memorial. As of December 1, 2021, DPAA reports more than 81,600 Americans remain missing from WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, and the Gulf Wars or other conflicts.

USS Arizona Survivor

Why didn't they get the bodies out of the Arizona?

Caitlin said: “When it was determined that the USS Arizona could not be salvaged, the navy decided that it would be 'too difficult to remove the dead in a respectful manner'. “So 1,102 people remain entombed in the USS Arizona, considered buried at sea.”

What ship is still at the bottom of Pearl Harbor?

Irreparably damaged, the USS Arizona still lies at the bottom of Pearl Harbor.

Can survivors of the USS Arizona be buried there?

Only USS Arizona survivors can be interred on the USS Arizona. Pearl Harbor survivors can have their ashes scattered over Pearl Harbor. The memorial service and interment of deceased USS Arizona Survivors is conducted on the USS Arizona Memorial.

How many WWII vets are still alive in 2021?

About 70 million people fought in World War II and, as of 2021, there are still approximately 240,000 surviving veterans in the United States alone.

Will the USS Arizona ever be raised?

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the short answer is no; she'll likely remain submerged in the harbor until she completely erodes down to nothing.

Is the USS Arizona still leaking oil 2020?

Fuel continues to leak from USS Arizona's wreckage.

However, despite the raging fire and ravages of time, some 500,000 gallons are still slowly seeping out of the ship's submerged wreckage: Nearly 70 years after its demise, Arizona continues to spill up to 9 quarts of oil into the harbor each day.

Who was the last person to be buried on the USS Arizona?

Harvey Milhorn was interred in the USS Arizona this Tuesday, the 80th anniversary of the attack. He'll likely be the last survivor to be buried in the ship. His daughter, Frances Goldsberry, and granddaughter, Rachel Yarasavich, took his ashes to Hawaii. “I think he will be at peace finally” said Goldsberry.

How long will USS Arizona last?

“It was an environmental disaster here,” said Daniel Martinez, historian with the National Park Service at Pearl Harbor. It's believed between 14,000 and 64,000 gallons of oil have leaked from the USS Arizona since the attack, and the National Park Service estimates it could continue to leak for 500 years.

Can USS Arizona survivors interred with their shipmates?

Only surviving Sailors that were crew members aboard the USS Arizona are given the honor to be interred within the ship once they pass. As of Feb. 2018, 43 USS Arizona Survivors had been interred within the ship, nested on the sea floor of Pearl Harbor.

Is Lou Conter still alive?

Conter now lives quietly in Grass Valley, Calif., about an hour north of Sacramento. What happened on December 7, 1941 is never far from his mind.

How many survivors of D Day are still alive?

The National D-Day Memorial website estimated that fewer than 3,000 veterans of D-Day were still living in 2021. Six World War II veterans are residents of the Pennsylvania Soldiers' and Sailors' Home in Erie, but none took part in D-Day. The home had 32 World War II veterans on June 2, 2017, and 11 on June 2, 2012.

Is anyone still alive from ww1?

As of 2011 there are no surviving veterans of The Great War. Despite more than 4 million soldiers being mobilized, and more than 65,000 being killed in the short amount of time, the fact that the war ended more than 100 years ago makes it impossible that someone called up to fight could be alive today.

Can you dive to the USS Arizona?

Because the Arizona is considered to be a memorial, it is unlawful for divers to enter the ship, so careful egresses are made using underwater rovers that document interior conditions. Members of PVA dive the waters of the USS Arizona along with the National Park Service.

Are there bodies on the USS Utah?

In all, 30 officers and 431 men survived the sinking of the Utah. But six officers and 52 sailors perished, either trapped inside the ship or as they tried to swim ashore. Only four of their bodies were ever recovered and identified.

What not to wear to Pearl Harbor?

While there is no official dress code for the museums and parks of Pearl Harbor, we do require that guests are appropriately dressed while visiting. Visitors must be wearing shirts that do not show excessive skin. Bathing suits are not acceptable, nor are inappropriate t-shirts. Flip flops and sandals are permitted.

Can you see the USS Arizona underwater?

With the use of an underwater ROV, we are able to see the inside of the U.S.S. Arizona which sits on the bottom of Pearl Harbor.

Is there a flag underwater at Pearl Harbor?

False. According to a spokesperson for the National Park Service, the underwater flag photo was not taken at the Pearl Harbor site. Instead, it depicts a flag once displayed at the USNS Vandenberg located in the waters of the Florida Keys.

How deep is the water where the USS Arizona is?

“Today, Arizona rests where she fell, submerged in about 40 feet of water just off the coast of Ford Island,” the National Park Service says. The ship isn't all that remains underwater.