USS Arizona Memorial
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
USS Arizona Memorial
Pearl Harbor, Hawaiʻi
It is a hard thing to
have survived when
we owe our place
to the dead.
Rene Quinton
Soldier’s Testament
The Fortunate Few
Their Stories
During the Pearl Harbor attack, 1,512 officers, sailors, and marines were assigned to the
battleship USS Arizona. Only 335 survived the “Day of Infamy.” Many of these
survivors were aboard the Arizona during the attack. Others were away on liberty,
attending training, or assigned to special duty ashore. Since that tragic day all of these
men have worn the mantle of “survivor” with grace and reluctance. Many feel fortunate
to have survived but some are haunted by the loss of their friends and fellow shipmates.
As you read through this list you may wonder, as they have, why were they spared from
the sea of death that engulfed their shipmates on that fateful day in 1941?
“Were you scared? Yes, one does get scared. Then you think, Will I ever see home again? Will I see
my family? How can I get out of this alive?” That’s when you pray a lot and tell yourself to remember
your Navy and Marine Corp training; stay calm, and try to be like Major Shapley and [Lieutenant]
Commander Fuqua. Those who have seen war carry unforgettable memories of their fellow men.”
COURTESY/JIM VLACH - USAR PHOTO COLLECTION #719
Russell J. McCurdy, Lt Col, USMC Retired
“There was a tremendous explosion as I
reached the quarterdeck ladder, and a terribly
burned sailor laid under the ladder. I got him by
the hand to get him to safety when the forward
part of the Arizona blew up. We were thrown
back toward the stern. This sailor I managed to
save; my twin [brother] I could not.”
John D. Anderson, BMC, USN Retired
Twin brother, Delbert, died on the Arizona.
Vincent Vlach was at home with his wife in
Honolulu at the start of the attack. He hurried
to Pearl Harbor amidst the air strike to help
men from their boats as they came ashore.
Many were badly burned, injured, and covered
with oil. Vincent said his “whites [uniform]
were a bloody and oily mess.”
Honoring a Final Request
In the Shrine Room at the USS Arizona
Memorial, a large wall lists the names of the
Arizona’s dead. A smaller wall (top of page)
contains the names of Arizona survivors who
chose to rejoin their shipmates in their final
resting place. Each of these men asked that
their remains be placed back into the Arizona.
To honor this final request, National Park
Service divers ceremoniously transport the
urns of survivors back to the ship (at right).
Resting their remains in the sunken wreck
allows them to finally reunite with their
brothers who died on December 7, 1941.
Vincent Vlach with wife, Jeanne, September 3, 1941
UNITED STATES NAVY
Vincent J. Vlach Jr., LCDR, USN Retired
Survivors of the December 7, 1941, Attack on the USS Arizona
United States Navy & Reserve (320)
AMACHER, Charles Andrew
ANDERSON, John Delmar
Sea1
BM2c
BAGBY, Walter Franklin
BALL, Masten “A”
BALLARD, Galen Owen
BARTH, DeWayne
BASS, Edward Forester
BAUMEISTER, William Nicolas
BECKER, Harvey Herman
BEMIS, Edwin Wallace
BENNETT, Earl Dean
BERDOLLT, George Anthony
BIRD, Leroy Alexander
BIRDSELL, Estelle
BIRTWELL, Daniel Thomas Jr.
BODEY, Edward Raymond
BOWEN, Andrew Jackson Jr.
BRADSHAW, Harry Frederick
BRAYDIS, John
BROWN, Gene R.
BROWNING, Robert James
BRUCE, John Franklin
BRUNER, Lauren Fay
BRUNS, Martin Benjamin
BUEHL, Herbert Vincent
BURCHAM, Jimmie Charles
BURK, Leland Howard
BUSH, William Jack
BYARD, Ralph Duncan
SF3c
F1c
F1c
BM1c
F2c
ACMM
GM2c
Sea1c
GM3c
FC3c
CTC
MM1c
Lt Comdr
BM2c
CMM
Sea1c
Sea1c
Sea1c
Sea2c
GM3c
FC3c
Y2c
F3c
Sea1c
GM3c
Ens
CCStd
FOSTER, James Park Jr.
FOWLER, Ralph Edward
FOWLER, Robert Dale
FRAZIER, Glen
FRYE, Everett Ellsworth
FUQUA, Samuel Glenn
Sea1c
BM1c
Sea2c
CGM
Sea1c
Lt Comdr
GALLAGHER, William Fred
GARFIELD, Jerome Harold
GASKINS, Walter James
GAUT, Harold Woodson
GEISELMAN, Ellis Hugh
GENEST, Dayton Merrill
GIBSON, Claude Clenton
GILBERT, Arthur Barnes
GILLEM, Charles “M”
GILLENWATER, Charles Ervin
GILLESPIE, David William
GLENN, Richard Clyde
GOLDSBERRY, William Joseph
GORDON, Donald Eugene
GOSHEN, William Eugene
GRABOWSKY, Leon
GRAHAM, Donald Alexander
GRAY, James Victor
GREEN, Clay Douglas Jr.
GREEN, James William
GRIM, George Edwin
GUERIN, Charles William Jr.
GUNA, Andrew
CEM
Ens
Sea1c
Sea1c
Comdr
Sea1c
Sea1c
Sea1c
Sea1c
Sea1c
Sea1c
Ens
Sea1c
GM2c
Sea1c
Ens
AMM1c
Sea1c
Sea1c
GM3c
GM1c
Sea1c
BM1c
HAERLING, Howard Gustave BM1c
HAERRY, Raymond John
Cox
CAMPBELL, Frank Monroe
Ens
HAMILTON, Elsworth Fonzo ACMM
CAMPBELL, George Kilgore
CTC
HAMILTON, James Edward
Sea1c
CARLSON, Ray Christian
Sea2c
HAND, Vernon
Sea1c
CARSON, Carl Malvin
Sea1c
HARGIS, Paul Eugene
Y3c
CHANDLER, Edwin Ray
Sea1c
HARR, Oliver Virgil
MM1c
CHAPMAN, Noel “B”
Sea2c
HARRELL, Allen Boyd
Sea1c
CHAPPELL, William Robert
Sea1c
HARRIS, Henry Sherman
Sea1c
CHRISTIANSEN, Harlan Carl
AS
HARRIS, John David
Sea1c
CHUNG-HOON, Gordon Patea Lt
HART, James Willard
F1c
CLOUSER, Marion Howard
GM1c
HARTLAND, Alfred Jack
Sea1c
COBURN, George W.
Sea1c
HAUFF, Richard
GM3c
COKER, Charles Walter
Lt
HEIN, Douglas
Ens
COMBS, Clyde Jefferson
Sea1c
HEINZ, Robert Henry
Sea1c
CONDON, Daniel Jerome
Lt(jg) (MC) HENDON, Robert Marvin
CGM
CONTER, Louis Anthony
QM3c
HENRY, John William
Ens
COOK, Lonnie David
Sea1c
HETRICK, Clarendon Robert Sea1c
COOLE, Lloyd Edward
Sea1c
HILL, Richard Howe
Y3c
COPLIN, Norman Walter
Sea1c
HINTON, John Harold
CSM
CORBIN, Ralph Victor Leon
Sea1c
HJELLE, Clarence Otto
Sea2c
CORNELIUS, Lyle Richard
Sea2c
HOLLAND, Fred McKenzie
Sea1c
COSBY, Ray Charles
Sea1c
HOLMES, Roy Willard
Sea1c
COX, John Madison Jr.
Lt Comdr HOMANN, Alfred James
Lt
COZAD, Francis Burnard
Sea2c
HOOKS, Woodrow Robert
Sea2c
CROTHERS, Lee Raymond
BM1c
HOOPER, Clifford Charles
RM2c
CRUZ, Henry Mesa
MAtt1c
HOWATT, John Paul
Ens
CULP, Donald Arthur
Sea2c
HUGHES, James Curtis
Sea1c
CZARNECKI, Anthony Francis
MM1c
HULL, Lester DeLance
Sea1c
HURST, Milton Thomas
AMM3c
DANIEL, Alfred Eugene
GM1c
HUTCHINS, Edward Francis
Lt
DARE, James Ashton
Ens
HUZAR, Peter
WT1c
DAVIS, Carl Everette
GM3c
HYSLOPE, Charles Edward
F1c
DAVIS, Elvin Clay
Sea1c
DAVISON, Henry Donald
Ens
INSELMAN, Donald
Sea1c
DEAN, William Ernest
BM1c
DEARING, John Davis
WT2c
JANIKOWSKI, Edward Joseph Cox
DECKER, Deward
Cox
JEFFERS, Warren Edwin
Sea1c
DESERANO, Joseph Charles
Mldr1c
JOHNSON, Donald R.
Sea1c
DICKERSON, William Charles A. RM2c
JOHNSON, Neil Francis
Cox
DICKINSON, Merle Edward
GM3c
JOHNSTON, Brooxey “J” Jr.
GM3c
DOBSON, Clarence Junior
GM3c
JONES, Hubert Hayes
CWT
DOHERTY, John Andrew
CGM
DONEGAN, Timothy Albert
Prtr1c
KARB, Joe Frank
CWT
DOUCETT, John Walter
GM3c
KEENER, “C” “H” GM3c
DUNCAN, Henry Barnett
FC3c
KEFFER, Carl Emerson
Sea1c
DUNCAN, Tommie Wilson
BM2c
KELLEY, Bruce Draper
Lt Comdr
KIRK, Guy Duane
Sea1c
EDMONDSON, Kenneth Eugene Cox
KISSINGER, Walter Marlond MM1c
EGAN, Paul Howard
FC3c
KUHN, Harold Joseph
Sea1c
ELKINS, Merle
Sea1c
KURTZ, Stanley Robert
Sea1c
ELLIOTT, Lawrence Emitt
MM1c
ELLIS, George William
SC1c
LANCASTER, James Daniel
Sea1c
ENOS, James R.
Sea2c
LANDRETH, Ralph William
GM2c
ESKEW, Weldon Virgil
MM1c
LANE, Glenn Harvey
RM3c
EVANS, John Willard
Sea1c
LANGDELL, Joseph Kopcho
Ens
EVERSOLE, Elmer Everett
Sea1c
LAWRENCE, Thomas Hurshel Sea1c
EYMAN, Lawrence Oliver
Sea1c
LAWSON, James Lenox
GM3c
LAWSON, Leonard George
Sea1c
FALGE, Francis Marion
Lt
LEIGHTON, Lindsay Ray
WT1c
FARQUHAR, Lawrence Albert
FC2c
LENCSES, Louie
GM3c
FAULKNER, Paul Harding
Sea1c
LENNING, George BirminghamEns
FAY, Lawrence Edward
GM3c
LEOPARD, Curtis James
BM1c
FELTON, Nathaniel
MAtt1c
LEWIS, William Edward
Lt(jg) (MC)
FIELD, Jennings Pemble
Ens
LINDSEY, Jack Lawton
Sea1c
FINGER, William Ralph
SM1c
LOTT, Russell Ardell
Sea1c
FITCH, Harry Lionel
Ens
LUKASAVITZ, Steven Jerome Sea1c
FLANAGAN, Guy Spalding Jr.
Ens
FLANNERY, Wendell Lee
Cox
MacQUEEN, Donald E.
Ens
FLORY, Dale Frederick
WT2c
MAINWARING, Billy Braun
F3c
FORBIS, James Leamon
Cox
MALASKI, John
Sea1c
E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A™
MALCOLM, Everett Allen
MANCUSO, Joseph
MANN, Charles Clark
MARCUM, Harry Bedford
MARKS, Edward Joseph
MASTERSON, Kleber Sandlin
MATTLAGE, Herbert
McCARRON, John Harry
McDONALD, Don Erwin
McFALL, Charles William
McKENNA, Kenneth Kermit
MELVIN, Earle Thomas
METCALF, John Howard
MIGLIACCIO, Thomas William
MILHORN, Harvey Hollis
MILLER, Jim Dick
MILLIKIN, Donald Hugh
MINI, James Haile
MODE, Stanley Robert
MOMMER, Rolland Earl
MURDOCK, Thomas Daniel
MUSICK, Clay Henry
MYLAN, Jack Clement
Ens
Sea1c
Lt
CEM
Cox
Lt
Ens
GM2c
Sea1c
GM1c
SM1c
CFC
Sea2c
Sea1c
GM3c
Ens
Sea2c
Lt(jg)
EM1c
BM2c
CY
Sea1c
SM2c
NELSON, Grady Lee Jr.
NEWELL, Bobby Earl
NICHOLS, John Edward
NIEMARA, Stanley Joseph
Sea2c
Sea2c
RM1c
Sea1c
O’BRION, Edward Francis Joseph
OLIPHANT, Harold Eugene
OLSEN, Vernon James
OSBORNE, William Daniel Jr.
OSMOND, Robert Hugh
OSTERBERG, Vernon Magnus
OTTERMAN, Clarence Wayne
OWEN, Paul Ralph
Sea1c
GM3c
Sea1c
Sea1c
FC3c
Ens
GM2c
Sea1c
PABLO, Patrocinio
PACITTI, Louis John
PARKER, William Whiteford
PECOTTE, Earl Henry
PEIL, William John
PERRY, Seth Harold
PHIPPS, Berwyn Robert
PHRANER, George Dewey Jr.
PITTARD, George Franklin
PITZ, Robert Leo
POLLACK, Francis Lee
PORT, Stanley Harrison Jr.
POSEY, Ernest Mendum
POTTS, Howard Kenton
POUSSON, Alfred Andrew
PROBST, Richard William
PUCKETT, Louis Alfred
PURVIS, William Robinson
OS1c
Gm3c
Sea1c
Gm2c
BM2c
Sea2c
SF2c
Sea2c
Lt
Sea1c
SC3c
Cox
MM1c
Cox
Sea2c
Sea1c
Comdr (SC)
F3c
QUILLIN, Wallace Franklin
Sea1c
RANN, Carl Frederick
RAMPLEY, John Watson
RAMSDELL, Millard Arthur
REID, Everett Owen
REIFERT, Eldon Ray
RIDER, Maurice David
RIDLEY, William Hull
RINER, Earl William
ROBINSON, Lewis Perrin
ROURKE, John Paul
ROWLEY, Welton Dana
RUHLMAN, Fred Lee
Sea1c
GM3c
Ens
MM1c
Cox
BM1c
RM3c
GM3c
Sea1c
Sea1c
Lt Comdr
Lt
SADLER, Jack Ivan
SADOWSKI, Joseph Stephen
SANDERS, Elmer Larimore
SARGENT, Robert Isaac Jr.
SCHAFER, Herman Leroy Jr.
SCHUBERT, Anthony Robert
SCHUMACHER, William James
SEELEY, Robert Fox
SHAFFER, John Jackson III
SHAWN, Ernest Maurice
SHEBAK, Joseph
SHEW, Martin Luther
SIMMONS, Claude William Jr.
SMITH, Clyde Crockett
SMITH, Harold Francis
SMITH, Roscoe Bryant
SMITH, William Hansford Jr.
SNOW, Rutherford Hayes
Sea2c
Sea1c
GM1c
Sea2c
Ens
Ens
WT1c
Sea2c
Lt
GM3c
Sea1c
MM2c
Sea1c
CEM
BM2c
GM3c
Cox
WT1c
STANBOROUGH, Thomas William Jr. Sea1c
STARKS, Don Harrison
MM1c
STOFFER, Bernald Henry
AMM1c
STRATTON, Donald Gay
Sea1c
STRONG, Herbert Ronald
Cox
STUART, Jean Marcelle
Sea1c
SULLIVAN, Aubry Randolph
Cox
TAGTMEYER, Laurence Ernest
TAPP, Murray L.
TESLOW, Stanley Merlin
THOMA, Steven Joseph
Chf Gun
Sea2c
GM2c
EM3c
THOMPSON, Norman
TRANTHAM, Glenwood Orris
TRAVIOLI, Vernon Alva
TUCKER, Edward Daniel
TURNER, Richard Newton Jr.
Mach
BM1c
Sea2c
BM2c
Sea1c
URBANIAK, Edmund Leo
Carp
VAN WINKLE, Edward LaverneF2c
VELIA, Keith Lloyd
Sea2c
VESSELS, James Allard
GM3c
VIDAL, Daniel
MAtt1c
VLACH, Vincent James Jr.
Y1c
VON SPRECKELSEN, Charles Albert Ptr2c
WAGNER, Robert Eugene
Sea1c
WAGNER, Rudolph Louis
CBM
WALKER, James Edward
QM2c
WALSH, Homan Leavell
Ens (SC)
WARD, James Robert
Sea1c
WARRINER, Kenneth T.
Sea2c
WARRINER, Russell Walter
Sea1c
WASHINGTON, Joseph Henry MAtt1c
WATSON, Howard Lincoln
BM2c
WEAVER, Richard Duncan
BM1c
WELCH, Frank Jr.
Ens
WELLER, Oree Cunningham Sea2c
WELLS, Harold Leroy
Sea1c
WELTER, Eddie Charles
Sea1c
WENTZLAFF, Edward Louis
AOM2c
WEST, Mark Austin
CMM
WESTBROOK, Clinton Howard Sea1c
WHITE, Thomas Arthur
Bm2c
WILLIAMS, John Francis
Gm3c
WILSON, Charles Leo
Sea1c
WILSON, Harold Green Jr.
F2c
WISE, James Louis
Sea1c
ZADIK, Edward Albert
Sea2c
United States Marine Corps
& Reserve (15)
BAKER, John MacRae
BRAHAM, Edward James
Sgt
PFC
CABINESS, Frank R.
CARTER, Edward J.
CORY, James Evans
COURSEY, John Paul
CRAWFORD, Lamar Smead
PFC
PltSgt
PFC
1stLt
PFC
EARLE, John Horatio Jr.
Capt
GOODMAN, Kenneth Dale
PFC
HARDY, Charles L.
Pvt
McCURDY, Russell J.
Pvt
NIGHTINGALE, Earl C.
Corp
SHAPLEY, Alan
SOLEY, Michael
Major
Corp
YOUNG, Donald George
PFC
My father’s memories
of the morning of
December 7, 1941
were
so strong and
Reference:
painful that he seldom
USS Arizona Muster
was
willing to share
Rolls, 1941
them with his family.
Arizona
Reunion
HeUSS
didn’t
want
toAsbe
sociation
reminded of the horrors
heUSS
had
witnessed...
Arizona
Pearl Harbor
Survivors:
Walter M. Kissinger’s
Vincent Jenny,
J. Vlachreflecting
Jr. and
daughter,
on
Lamar
S.
Crawford
the memories of her father.
NPS / USS Arizona
This publication funded
by the Arizona Memorial
Museum Foundation.