It is a hard thing to have survived when we owe our place to the dead.

Rene Quinton Soldier’s Testament

USS Arizona Memorial National Park ServiceU.S. Department of the Interior

USS Arizona MemorialPearl Harbor, Hawaiʻi

The Fortunate Few 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?

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.

Honoring a Final Request

Their Stories “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.”

“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.”

Vincent J. Vlach Jr., LCDR, USN Retired

Russell J. McCurdy, Lt Col, USMC Retired

Vincent Vlach with wife, Jeanne, September 3, 1941

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Reference:

USS Arizona Muster Rolls, 1941

USS Arizona Reunion As-sociation

USS Arizona Pearl Harbor Survivors:

Vincent J. Vlach Jr. and Lamar S. Crawford

NPS / USS Arizona

Survivors of the December 7, 1941, Attack on the USS ArizonaUnited States Navy & Reserve (320)

AMACHER, Charles Andrew Sea1ANDERSON, John Delmar BM2c

BAGBY, Walter Franklin SF3cBALL, Masten “A” F1cBALLARD, Galen Owen F1cBARTH, DeWayne BM1cBASS, Edward Forester F2cBAUMEISTER, William Nicolas ACMMBECKER, Harvey Herman GM2cBEMIS, Edwin Wallace Sea1cBENNETT, Earl Dean GM3cBERDOLLT, George Anthony FC3cBIRD, Leroy Alexander CTCBIRDSELL, Estelle MM1cBIRTWELL, Daniel Thomas Jr. Lt ComdrBODEY, Edward Raymond BM2cBOWEN, Andrew Jackson Jr. CMMBRADSHAW, Harry Frederick Sea1cBRAYDIS, John Sea1cBROWN, Gene R. Sea1cBROWNING, Robert James Sea2cBRUCE, John Franklin GM3cBRUNER, Lauren Fay FC3cBRUNS, Martin Benjamin Y2cBUEHL, Herbert Vincent F3cBURCHAM, Jimmie Charles Sea1cBURK, Leland Howard GM3cBUSH, William Jack EnsBYARD, Ralph Duncan CCStd

CAMPBELL, Frank Monroe EnsCAMPBELL, George Kilgore CTCCARLSON, Ray Christian Sea2cCARSON, Carl Malvin Sea1cCHANDLER, Edwin Ray Sea1cCHAPMAN, Noel “B” Sea2cCHAPPELL, William Robert Sea1cCHRISTIANSEN, Harlan Carl ASCHUNG-HOON, Gordon Patea LtCLOUSER, Marion Howard GM1cCOBURN, George W. Sea1cCOKER, Charles Walter LtCOMBS, Clyde Jefferson Sea1cCONDON, Daniel Jerome Lt(jg) (MC)CONTER, Louis Anthony QM3cCOOK, Lonnie David Sea1cCOOLE, Lloyd Edward Sea1cCOPLIN, Norman Walter Sea1cCORBIN, Ralph Victor Leon Sea1cCORNELIUS, Lyle Richard Sea2cCOSBY, Ray Charles Sea1cCOX, John Madison Jr. Lt ComdrCOZAD, Francis Burnard Sea2cCROTHERS, Lee Raymond BM1cCRUZ, Henry Mesa MAtt1cCULP, Donald Arthur Sea2cCZARNECKI, Anthony Francis MM1c

DANIEL, Alfred Eugene GM1cDARE, James Ashton EnsDAVIS, Carl Everette GM3cDAVIS, Elvin Clay Sea1cDAVISON, Henry Donald EnsDEAN, William Ernest BM1cDEARING, John Davis WT2cDECKER, Deward CoxDESERANO, Joseph Charles Mldr1cDICKERSON, William Charles A. RM2cDICKINSON, Merle Edward GM3cDOBSON, Clarence Junior GM3cDOHERTY, John Andrew CGMDONEGAN, Timothy Albert Prtr1cDOUCETT, John Walter GM3cDUNCAN, Henry Barnett FC3cDUNCAN, Tommie Wilson BM2c

EDMONDSON, Kenneth Eugene CoxEGAN, Paul Howard FC3cELKINS, Merle Sea1cELLIOTT, Lawrence Emitt MM1cELLIS, George William SC1cENOS, James R. Sea2cESKEW, Weldon Virgil MM1cEVANS, John Willard Sea1cEVERSOLE, Elmer Everett Sea1cEYMAN, Lawrence Oliver Sea1c

FALGE, Francis Marion LtFARQUHAR, Lawrence Albert FC2cFAULKNER, Paul Harding Sea1cFAY, Lawrence Edward GM3cFELTON, Nathaniel MAtt1cFIELD, Jennings Pemble EnsFINGER, William Ralph SM1cFITCH, Harry Lionel EnsFLANAGAN, Guy Spalding Jr. Ens FLANNERY, Wendell Lee Cox FLORY, Dale Frederick WT2cFORBIS, James Leamon Cox

FOSTER, James Park Jr. Sea1cFOWLER, Ralph Edward BM1cFOWLER, Robert Dale Sea2cFRAZIER, Glen CGMFRYE, Everett Ellsworth Sea1cFUQUA, Samuel Glenn Lt Comdr

GALLAGHER, William Fred CEMGARFIELD, Jerome Harold EnsGASKINS, Walter James Sea1cGAUT, Harold Woodson Sea1cGEISELMAN, Ellis Hugh ComdrGENEST, Dayton Merrill Sea1cGIBSON, Claude Clenton Sea1cGILBERT, Arthur Barnes Sea1cGILLEM, Charles “M” Sea1cGILLENWATER, Charles Ervin Sea1cGILLESPIE, David William Sea1cGLENN, Richard Clyde EnsGOLDSBERRY, William Joseph Sea1cGORDON, Donald Eugene GM2cGOSHEN, William Eugene Sea1cGRABOWSKY, Leon EnsGRAHAM, Donald Alexander AMM1cGRAY, James Victor Sea1cGREEN, Clay Douglas Jr. Sea1cGREEN, James William GM3cGRIM, George Edwin GM1cGUERIN, Charles William Jr. Sea1cGUNA, Andrew BM1c

HAERLING, Howard Gustave BM1cHAERRY, Raymond John CoxHAMILTON, Elsworth Fonzo ACMMHAMILTON, James Edward Sea1cHAND, Vernon Sea1cHARGIS, Paul Eugene Y3cHARR, Oliver Virgil MM1cHARRELL, Allen Boyd Sea1cHARRIS, Henry Sherman Sea1cHARRIS, John David Sea1cHART, James Willard F1cHARTLAND, Alfred Jack Sea1cHAUFF, Richard GM3cHEIN, Douglas EnsHEINZ, Robert Henry Sea1cHENDON, Robert Marvin CGMHENRY, John William EnsHETRICK, Clarendon Robert Sea1cHILL, Richard Howe Y3cHINTON, John Harold CSMHJELLE, Clarence Otto Sea2cHOLLAND, Fred McKenzie Sea1cHOLMES, Roy Willard Sea1cHOMANN, Alfred James LtHOOKS, Woodrow Robert Sea2cHOOPER, Clifford Charles RM2cHOWATT, John Paul EnsHUGHES, James Curtis Sea1cHULL, Lester DeLance Sea1cHURST, Milton Thomas AMM3cHUTCHINS, Edward Francis LtHUZAR, Peter WT1cHYSLOPE, Charles Edward F1c

INSELMAN, Donald Sea1c

JANIKOWSKI, Edward Joseph CoxJEFFERS, Warren Edwin Sea1cJOHNSON, Donald R. Sea1cJOHNSON, Neil Francis CoxJOHNSTON, Brooxey “J” Jr. GM3cJONES, Hubert Hayes CWT

KARB, Joe Frank CWTKEENER, “C” “H” GM3cKEFFER, Carl Emerson Sea1cKELLEY, Bruce Draper Lt ComdrKIRK, Guy Duane Sea1cKISSINGER, Walter Marlond MM1cKUHN, Harold Joseph Sea1cKURTZ, Stanley Robert Sea1c

LANCASTER, James Daniel Sea1cLANDRETH, Ralph William GM2cLANE, Glenn Harvey RM3cLANGDELL, Joseph Kopcho EnsLAWRENCE, Thomas Hurshel Sea1cLAWSON, James Lenox GM3cLAWSON, Leonard George Sea1cLEIGHTON, Lindsay Ray WT1cLENCSES, Louie GM3cLENNING, George Birmingham EnsLEOPARD, Curtis James BM1cLEWIS, William Edward Lt(jg) (MC)LINDSEY, Jack Lawton Sea1cLOTT, Russell Ardell Sea1cLUKASAVITZ, Steven Jerome Sea1c

MacQUEEN, Donald E. EnsMAINWARING, Billy Braun F3cMALASKI, John Sea1c

MALCOLM, Everett Allen EnsMANCUSO, Joseph Sea1cMANN, Charles Clark LtMARCUM, Harry Bedford CEMMARKS, Edward Joseph CoxMASTERSON, Kleber Sandlin LtMATTLAGE, Herbert EnsMcCARRON, John Harry GM2cMcDONALD, Don Erwin Sea1c McFALL, Charles William GM1cMcKENNA, Kenneth Kermit SM1cMELVIN, Earle Thomas CFCMETCALF, John Howard Sea2cMIGLIACCIO, Thomas William Sea1cMILHORN, Harvey Hollis GM3cMILLER, Jim Dick EnsMILLIKIN, Donald Hugh Sea2cMINI, James Haile Lt(jg)MODE, Stanley Robert EM1cMOMMER, Rolland Earl BM2cMURDOCK, Thomas Daniel CYMUSICK, Clay Henry Sea1cMYLAN, Jack Clement SM2c

NELSON, Grady Lee Jr. Sea2cNEWELL, Bobby Earl Sea2cNICHOLS, John Edward RM1cNIEMARA, Stanley Joseph Sea1c

O’BRION, Edward Francis Joseph Sea1cOLIPHANT, Harold Eugene GM3cOLSEN, Vernon James Sea1cOSBORNE, William Daniel Jr. Sea1cOSMOND, Robert Hugh FC3cOSTERBERG, Vernon Magnus EnsOTTERMAN, Clarence Wayne GM2cOWEN, Paul Ralph Sea1c

PABLO, Patrocinio OS1cPACITTI, Louis John Gm3cPARKER, William Whiteford Sea1cPECOTTE, Earl Henry Gm2cPEIL, William John BM2cPERRY, Seth Harold Sea2cPHIPPS, Berwyn Robert SF2cPHRANER, George Dewey Jr. Sea2cPITTARD, George Franklin LtPITZ, Robert Leo Sea1cPOLLACK, Francis Lee SC3cPORT, Stanley Harrison Jr. CoxPOSEY, Ernest Mendum MM1cPOTTS, Howard Kenton CoxPOUSSON, Alfred Andrew Sea2cPROBST, Richard William Sea1cPUCKETT, Louis Alfred Comdr (SC)PURVIS, William Robinson F3c

QUILLIN, Wallace Franklin Sea1c

RANN, Carl Frederick Sea1cRAMPLEY, John Watson GM3cRAMSDELL, Millard Arthur EnsREID, Everett Owen MM1cREIFERT, Eldon Ray CoxRIDER, Maurice David BM1cRIDLEY, William Hull RM3cRINER, Earl William GM3cROBINSON, Lewis Perrin Sea1cROURKE, John Paul Sea1cROWLEY, Welton Dana Lt ComdrRUHLMAN, Fred Lee Lt

SADLER, Jack Ivan Sea2cSADOWSKI, Joseph Stephen Sea1cSANDERS, Elmer Larimore GM1cSARGENT, Robert Isaac Jr. Sea2cSCHAFER, Herman Leroy Jr. EnsSCHUBERT, Anthony Robert EnsSCHUMACHER, William James WT1cSEELEY, Robert Fox Sea2cSHAFFER, John Jackson III LtSHAWN, Ernest Maurice GM3cSHEBAK, Joseph Sea1cSHEW, Martin Luther MM2cSIMMONS, Claude William Jr. Sea1cSMITH, Clyde Crockett CEMSMITH, Harold Francis BM2cSMITH, Roscoe Bryant GM3cSMITH, William Hansford Jr. CoxSNOW, Rutherford Hayes WT1cSTANBOROUGH, Thomas William Jr. Sea1cSTARKS, Don Harrison MM1c STOFFER, Bernald Henry AMM1cSTRATTON, Donald Gay Sea1cSTRONG, Herbert Ronald CoxSTUART, Jean Marcelle Sea1cSULLIVAN, Aubry Randolph Cox

TAGTMEYER, Laurence Ernest Chf GunTAPP, Murray L. Sea2cTESLOW, Stanley Merlin GM2cTHOMA, Steven Joseph EM3c

THOMPSON, Norman MachTRANTHAM, Glenwood Orris BM1cTRAVIOLI, Vernon Alva Sea2cTUCKER, Edward Daniel BM2cTURNER, Richard Newton Jr. Sea1c

URBANIAK, Edmund Leo Carp

VAN WINKLE, Edward Laverne F2cVELIA, Keith Lloyd Sea2cVESSELS, James Allard GM3cVIDAL, Daniel MAtt1cVLACH, Vincent James Jr. Y1cVON SPRECKELSEN, Charles Albert Ptr2c

WAGNER, Robert Eugene Sea1cWAGNER, Rudolph Louis CBMWALKER, James Edward QM2cWALSH, Homan Leavell Ens (SC)WARD, James Robert Sea1cWARRINER, Kenneth T. Sea2cWARRINER, Russell Walter Sea1cWASHINGTON, Joseph Henry MAtt1cWATSON, Howard Lincoln BM2cWEAVER, Richard Duncan BM1cWELCH, Frank Jr. EnsWELLER, Oree Cunningham Sea2cWELLS, Harold Leroy Sea1cWELTER, Eddie Charles Sea1cWENTZLAFF, Edward Louis AOM2cWEST, Mark Austin CMMWESTBROOK, Clinton Howard Sea1cWHITE, Thomas Arthur Bm2cWILLIAMS, John Francis Gm3cWILSON, Charles Leo Sea1cWILSON, Harold Green Jr. F2cWISE, James Louis Sea1c

ZADIK, Edward Albert Sea2c

United States Marine Corps& Reserve (15)

BAKER, John MacRae SgtBRAHAM, Edward James PFC

CABINESS, Frank R. PFCCARTER, Edward J. PltSgtCORY, James Evans PFCCOURSEY, John Paul 1stLtCRAWFORD, Lamar Smead PFC

EARLE, John Horatio Jr. Capt

GOODMAN, Kenneth Dale PFC

HARDY, Charles L. Pvt

McCURDY, Russell J. Pvt

NIGHTINGALE, Earl C. Corp

SHAPLEY, Alan MajorSOLEY, Michael Corp

YOUNG, Donald George PFC

My father’s memories of the morning of December 7, 1941 were so strong and painful that he seldom was willing to share them with his family. He didn’t want to be reminded of the horrors he had witnessed...

Walter M. Kissinger’s daughter, Jenny, reflecting on the memories of her father.

This publication funded by the Arizona Memorial

Museum Foundation.

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A™