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USS ARIZONA SURVIVOR/ WAR HERO LOU CONTER TURNS 100
Self

Posted on 09/12/2021 4:13:06 PM PDT by j.havenfarm

DATELINE GRASS VALLEY, CA: Lieutenant Commander Lou Conter, USN (Ret.) celebrated his 100th birthday here in Grass Valley today. About 150 family, friends, military, law enforcement, and public officials were in attendance for the tribute to this great American.

Mr Conter was on duty on the deck of the USS Arizona on December 7, 1941. He is one of only two survivors of the Arizona today. He went on to become a naval aviator and was shot down twice in his intrepid service in the South Pacific.

He spent 35 years in the US Navy, working in intelligence and developing the rigorous program to teach service members to endure captivity by the enemy. He is truly a national hero. Much loved at Pearl Harbor, unfortunately he will be unable to attend the 80th anniversary observances this year.

In dark times like these, Lou Conter’s story of an extraordinary life of service to his country can give us hope that what we were, we can be gain. For those interested, he recently published his autobiography, The Lou Conter Story. I hate to say it but the only way to get it I know of is through Amazon. I heartily recommend.

When I periodically write on this forum about this great American and dear friend, I humbly offer for you my son’s Eagle Scout project video biography of this great American. I hope you enjoy it. USS Arizona Survivor Lou Conter -- Pearl Harbor & Pacific War Video Memoir: Witness to Infamy


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: arizona; conter; eagle; kenpotts; louconter

1 posted on 09/12/2021 4:13:06 PM PDT by j.havenfarm
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To: j.havenfarm

USS Arizona Survivor Lou Conter — Pearl Harbor & Pacific War Video Memoir: Witness to Infamy

There. Sorry


2 posted on 09/12/2021 4:14:08 PM PDT by j.havenfarm (20 years on Free Republic, 12/10/20! More than 3700 replies and still not shutting up!)
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To: j.havenfarm

Third time’s a charm;
https://youtu.be/T_L0kWTqPiA


3 posted on 09/12/2021 4:15:46 PM PDT by j.havenfarm (20 years on Free Republic, 12/10/20! More than 3700 replies and still not shutting up!)
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To: j.havenfarm

God bless you, Sir.


4 posted on 09/12/2021 4:16:52 PM PDT by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to says it.)
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To: j.havenfarm

Wasn’t he one of the few men that were on a conning tower on the Arizona and another ship tossed him a line to get out of the inferno?


5 posted on 09/12/2021 4:22:11 PM PDT by vetvetdoug
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To: j.havenfarm

Thanks for posting this. I drove by Grass Valley today on my way to Tahoe. Didn’t know one of the final two survivors was right there turning 100. Happy birthday to him! Wow. Just 2 left.


6 posted on 09/12/2021 4:25:55 PM PDT by olivia3boys
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To: vetvetdoug

He want one of those, but he was good friends with the late Lauren Bruner, who was one of those fellows. The late Joe George of the USS Vestal was awarded the Bronze Star for throwing that life line. We were so honored that Mr George’s family sent my son a challenge coin to recognize his making the linked video


7 posted on 09/12/2021 4:33:41 PM PDT by j.havenfarm (20 years on Free Republic, 12/10/20! More than 3700 replies and still not shutting up!)
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To: j.havenfarm

Did a little digging and found out that the other survivor is Ken Potts, who turned 100 last April 15. Initially there were 335 survivors of the attack.


8 posted on 09/12/2021 4:38:50 PM PDT by Verginius Rufus
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To: j.havenfarm

Happy 100th, Lieutenant Commander Lou Conter!!

God bless you, sir....as you have blessed this great nation.

A grateful family thanks you, for your service.

Thank you, so much, for posting this...and, his oral history, from four years ago (2017)....hubby and I are looking forward to watching and learning, from this national treasure.

We will share his very important story and history, with our grands.


9 posted on 09/12/2021 5:09:30 PM PDT by Jane Long (America, Bless God....blessed be the Nation.)
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To: Verginius Rufus; Phinneous; SJackson; BTerclinger; Daffynition; cyn; null and void
Did a little digging and found out that the other survivor is Ken Potts, who turned 100 last April 15. Initially there were 335 survivors of the attack.

Thank you for providing that detail! How I missed that in the past I don't know, but everything in its proper time and place.

Few care about information I round up, but there are many parallels to the Arizona and Rachel the Matriarch, who is known as Rachel Imenu, Rachel "our mother".

Buried where she died, in an isolated grave, at "the crossroads" (the sign is there at the museum site - crossroads of the Pacific) ... crying for her children like the tears of the Arizona, the word play on Arizona as Eretz Ziona (the land toward Zion) or as Eretz Yonah (land of the dove, which is symbolic of the people of Israel).

Even the bright white memorial is like a dove hovering over her grave.

Anyway, 335 = Rachel Imenu [רחל אמנו], "Rachel our mother".

And 335 is "upon the face of the waters" [על־פני המים] in Gen 1.2, re the Spirit of Elohim hovering over the waters, which in the classic commentaries is likened to a dove (Rashi).

These match with the initial 1177 souls lost on the Arizona, as 1177 = "the first lady" [הגברת הראשונה]

1177 + 335 =

The First Lady, Rachel Imenu.

Waiting for her two sons, Lou Conter and Ken Potts...

Thanks again. I'll let myself out..

10 posted on 09/12/2021 5:21:06 PM PDT by Ezekiel ("Come fly with US". Ingenuity-- because the Son of David begins with Mars.)
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To: Jane Long

You are most welcome, FRiend. If you like the movie Get the book if you can because the movie only scratches the surface. He’s lived more life than any 20 of us put together (ps I have no financial interest in the book)


11 posted on 09/12/2021 6:38:41 PM PDT by j.havenfarm (20 years on Free Republic, 12/10/20! More than 3700 replies and still not shutting up!)
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To: j.havenfarm

Thanks for posting this


12 posted on 09/12/2021 8:39:21 PM PDT by silverleaf (In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act)
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To: j.havenfarm

I’ve corresponded with Lou. Family has visited Lou in Grass Valley.

Two years later in the war, he was my Dad’s PBY co-pilot. All the crew survived a ditching after flares ignited in the aft compartment. They swam to an enemy-held island, harbored by friendly natives, and transported away by PT boat.

First words from native: “You talk Jesus-talk?”


13 posted on 09/13/2021 1:19:42 AM PDT by Does so (USA is run from 2446 Belmont Rd, NW, DC, (Kalorama). Why else the 9/11 deadline for Afghanistan?)
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