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Lou Conter, last living USS Arizona survivor after Pearl Harbor attack, dies at 102
CBS News ^ | April 1, 2024 | Cecilio Padilla

Posted on 04/01/2024 1:13:28 PM PDT by rdl6989

The sole living survivor from the sinking of the USS Arizona during the Pearl Harbor attack that brought the US into World War II has now died.

Lou Conter, who lived in Grass Valley, was 20 years old at the time of the attack on Dec. 7, 1941.

There were 2,403 Americans killed in the attack – including 1,177 of Arizona's crew. Conter was one of the only 335 officers and crewmen who survived.

Over the years, Conter shared his experiences and visited Hawaii for remembrance ceremonies.

"Minute it happened, we sounded general quarters and they were in there and we blew up in about eight minutes, nine minutes," Conter told CBS13 in 2022.

Contor went on to serve in three wars, flying 200 missions as a pilot -- and was even shot down twice.

On Monday, April 1, Conter's daughter confirmed that the veteran had died earlier in the morning. He was 102.

(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; US: California; US: Hawaii
KEYWORDS: 19411207; california; ceciliopadilla; grassvalley; hawaii; japan; louconter; pacificwar; pearlharbor; ussarizona; worldwareleven; worldwarii; ww2
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1 posted on 04/01/2024 1:13:28 PM PDT by rdl6989
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To: rdl6989

What a blessed run.

RIP, Airman.

God keep you, on your final flight.

Thank you for your service.


2 posted on 04/01/2024 1:17:26 PM PDT by Jane Long (The role of the GOP: to write sharply-worded letters as America becomes a communist hell-hole.)
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To: rdl6989

Rest in Peace.


3 posted on 04/01/2024 1:17:51 PM PDT by MAGA2017
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To: rdl6989

A most respectful hand salute to you, Sir.

RIP


4 posted on 04/01/2024 1:18:20 PM PDT by laplata (They want each crisis to take the greatest toll possible.)
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To: rdl6989
Contor went on to serve in three wars, flying 200 missions as a pilot -- and was even shot down twice. On Monday, April 1, Conter's daughter confirmed that the veteran had died earlier in the morning. He was 102.

I suspect he died peacefully - unafraid as always...

5 posted on 04/01/2024 1:19:22 PM PDT by GOPJ
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To: Jane Long

I saw in the story about his death that only 119,000 WW II vets are still alive. That’s very few still left of the over 16 million who served.


6 posted on 04/01/2024 1:20:25 PM PDT by laplata (They want each crisis to take the greatest toll possible.)
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To: laplata

1945 was 79 years ago ...The youngest WWII veterans would be late ‘90s age now.


7 posted on 04/01/2024 1:22:16 PM PDT by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
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To: rdl6989

RIP good sir!


8 posted on 04/01/2024 1:22:57 PM PDT by MeganC ("Russians are subhuman" - posted by Kazan 8 March 2024)
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To: rdl6989

For his Eagle Scout project my son made a video biography of Mr Conter, which I’ve posted here every Pearl Harbor day since 2017. I offer it now for the final time.

But Pearl Harbor barely scratches the surface. For anyone who wants to read an extremely inspiring life story I strongly recommend his autobiography from just a few years ago, The Lou Conter story, available on Amazon

I’m proud we became friends. I’m happy to tell you he was sharp to the end. A servant of the Lord, he told me a few months ago that he was not afraid to die and, when he appeared before the throne of the Lord he would say with his characteristic humility, “I did my best.”

The nation has lost one of its greatest sons today.

https://youtu.be/T_L0kWTqPiA?si=lQOTpnqM9EquCHy1


9 posted on 04/01/2024 1:24:25 PM PDT by j.havenfarm (23 years on Free Republic, 12/10/23! More than 8,000 replies and still not shutting up!)
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To: Jane Long

Wow


10 posted on 04/01/2024 1:34:00 PM PDT by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the Days of Lot; They did Eat, They Drank, They Bought, They Sold ......)
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To: rdl6989
I liked an episode of NCIS a few years ago starring Christopher Lloyd as a USS Arizona survivor. I loved it.

I don't know how true this is, but in it they said that Arizona survivors can choose to be buried in the wreckage.

11 posted on 04/01/2024 1:35:48 PM PDT by Tell It Right (1st Thessalonians 5:21 -- Put everything to the test, hold fast to that which is true.)
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To: laplata

God bless them, all.


12 posted on 04/01/2024 1:37:22 PM PDT by Jane Long (The role of the GOP: to write sharply-worded letters as America becomes a communist hell-hole.)
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To: j.havenfarm

Thank you for posting Mr Conter’s video biography.

And, for sharing a heartwarming part of his story, today.


13 posted on 04/01/2024 1:39:53 PM PDT by Jane Long (The role of the GOP: to write sharply-worded letters as America becomes a communist hell-hole.)
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To: j.havenfarm

Thank you.


14 posted on 04/01/2024 1:47:19 PM PDT by rdl6989 ( )
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To: rlmorel

RIP

April 1st? Because..

You might recall that for years, there’s been some lore that the oil seepage aka the tears of the Arizona will stop when the last of her crew is called home.

Yet in the past year or so, I’d looked it up again and it seemed as if the “lore” had morphed into it being the last of the *Pearl Harbor* survivors, not the USS Arizona specifically.

But that seemed bogus, considering that no one can define with any precision, “Pearl Harbor” survivors.

All ironic considering the date and what is the real lore versus the fake lore.

Fair winds and following seas, Lou Conter. It sure looks to me like you were the one chosen to wipe away the lady’s tears, however that is destined to happen.

April 1, with its own story and traditions about jokes and foolishness, laughter.


15 posted on 04/01/2024 1:48:21 PM PDT by Ezekiel (🆘️ "Come fly with US". 🔴 Ingenuity -- because the Son of David begins with MARS ♂️, aka every man)
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To: rdl6989

And thus passes an era.

May his Memory be Eternal!


16 posted on 04/01/2024 1:57:47 PM PDT by lightman (I am a binary Trinitarian. Deal with it!)
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To: rdl6989

Truly the greatest generation...RIP.


17 posted on 04/01/2024 1:59:41 PM PDT by maddog55 (The only thing systemic in America is the left's hatred of it!)
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To: Ezekiel
Yes. Wow. A bygone time. And we are worse off for not having them here to remind us of what happened.

Because we sure need reminding.

One of my favorite passages is from Tales Of The South Pacific:

"These men of the South Pacific...like their victories, will be remembered as long as our generation lives. After that, like the men of the Confederacy, they will become strangers. Longer and longer shadows will obscure them until their Guadalcanal sounds distant on the ear like Shiloh and Valley Forge."

Brings a lump to my throat to see that. Might say "Pearl Harbor" instead of "Guadalcanal".

18 posted on 04/01/2024 2:02:41 PM PDT by rlmorel (In Today's Democrat America, The $5 Dollar Bill is the New $1 Dollar Bill.)
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To: Jane Long

Yes. My Dad US Army in CBI-China-India-Burma and occupation of Japan. An aunt who was a US Army Nurse in ETO, An Uncle in US Army ETO.


19 posted on 04/01/2024 2:24:43 PM PDT by laplata (They want each crisis to take the greatest toll possible.)
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To: j.havenfarm

Thank you for posting that great video.

That America is gone forever...so sad.


20 posted on 04/01/2024 2:38:21 PM PDT by laplata (They want each crisis to take the greatest toll possible.)
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