A big part of our nation’s history and the last surviving crew member of those aboard the USS Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, has passed away. Lou Conter was one of the 335 sailors aboard the USS Arizona who survived on December 7, 1941. The Arizona lost 1,177 Sailors and Marines during the Japanese attack. Always humble, in an interview last year, he was asked about his hero status:
Conter would serve through World War II before going to Korea. He then taught U. S. troops survival, evasion, resistance and escape skills in 1954. His legacy includes helping establish training bases in Florida and California, and in 1965 he came back to Pearl Harbor to author a training manual for troops heading to Vietnam. He retired from the Navy in 1967 as a Lieutenant Commander. Thank you, Mr. Conter, for your service to our great Nation.
