Pearl Harbor Witness Dies at 102

Lou Conter was a 20-year-old logistics officer on the USS Arizona at the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 - Photo: US NAVY

According to AFP, on December 7, 1941, quartermaster Lou Conter participated in rescuing his teammates after the US Pacific fleet was suddenly attacked by the Japanese army.

The attack damaged or destroyed most of the fleet based at the Hawaiian naval base and killed more than 2,000 Americans. The attack on Pearl Harbor brought the United States into World War II.

More than 1,100 people on the USS Arizona died. Many of their bodies are still inside the wreck, according to AFP.

"This is a heartbreaking loss," said Aileen Utterdyke, president and CEO of Pacific Historic Parks, a nonprofit that honors those who died at Pearl Harbor.

Pacific Historic Parks said Mr. Conter died at his home in Grass Valley, California, surrounded by family.

"Lou Conter epitomized the men and women of our greatest generation, the Americans whose courage, achievement and sacrifice saved our country from tyranny.

"He had an exemplary career in the US Navy and consistently urged schools, parents and the American people to always remember Pearl Harbor," Ms. Utterdyke said.

After Pearl Harbor, Mr. Conter became a pilot in World War II. His plane was shot down twice, including once off the coast of New Guinea, in shark-infested waters.

As an intelligence officer, he flew combat missions in Korea and created the US Navy's first SERE (survival, evasion, resistance and escape) program.

He also served as military advisor to US presidents, including Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson.

NH (according to Tuoi Tre)

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/chung-nhan-tran-tran-chau-cang-qua-doi-o-tuoi-102-377519.html