Thousands of Americans were serving and working on December 7, 1941, at Pearl Harbor. A surprise attack from Imperial Japan would change their lives and the course of world history. Today, several decades have passed, and the Pearl Harbor survivors are also dwindling down. Their legacy remains but it’s important we continue to honor their sacrifice and their reminder to stay ready as a nation. Suggested read: The Bloody Hundredth Helps Bring the Masters of Air True Story to Life

Are There Any Remaining Pearl Harbor Survivors?

Many organizations have been tracking Pearl Harbor survivors, and reports indicate that as of April 1st, 2024 there are officially no more remaining survivors of Pearl Harbor still alive. The death of Lou Conter at the age of 102 means that there are no more living survivors of the battleship Arizona. Sadly, earlier this year, two other survivors passed away. This includes 99-year-old Edward Carroll, who passed away the morning of February 13, 2024, and was at the 82nd annual commemoration of the attack in Hawaii in December 2023. Sterling Cale lived to be 102 and also recently passed away on January 20, 2024. Sadly, because of health complications, Cale, a Veteran of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, was unable to attend the commemoration ceremony. All of these men went through harrowing experiences during the attack, including Cale helping to rescue fellow troops in waters lit ablaze. This was only the beginning; however, as Cale worked to retrieve the remains of those aboard the USS Arizona in the following days. For Carroll, his service as a Sailor began after finishing at the top of his class at Aviation Mechanic School. He was one of the last attack on Pearl Harbor survivors. In fact, he was only 16 when he was assigned to Pearl Harbor, arriving days before the Japanese would. This was just the beginning of what would turn into a brutal bout of service, as Carroll would survive. However, while flying a PBY Catalina near Guadalcanal, he was shot down. Contor was a quartermaster who assisted in the positioning of the Arizona's navigation when a Japanese armor-piercing bomb penetrated the ship. Miraculously he was uninjured. He tended to the needs of others who were either badly burned or blinded from the attack. He retired from the Navy in 1967 with the rank of a lieutenant commander. Contor went on to become a real estate broker and developer in LA after service.

Preserving Their Legacy

Now that the last Pearl Harbor survivor has died, it is imperative that the stories of these brave men carry on. The experiences and first-hand accounts are important for our nation’s legacy as well as their sacrifice. Fortunately, there have been many efforts to preserve their legacies, stories, and sacrifices:

• The USS Arizona Memorial Program is a collaboration between the Navy and National Park Service to remember those who died aboard the ship.
• In a similar vein, the Pearl Harbor National Memorial is the larger encompassing effort to commemorate multiple ships and service members.
• Created by Congress in 1958, the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association (PHSA) continues to remember the attack and the importance of remaining ready at all times.
• The Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor is another notable organization maintaining their stories.

Related read: The USS Arizona Memorial Honors Pearl Harbor Heroes

Richard C. Higgins and Lou Conter Pass Away At 102

Richard C. Higgins died at the age of 102 on March 19th, 2024. He was one of the few remaining Pearl Harbor survivors. He was born on a farm near Oklahoma on July 24th, 1921, and served in the Navy for 20 years. Higgins then went on to become an aeronautical engineer for the Northrop Corporation. In 2008 he had an interview with Oral History, where he talked about what he experienced. His granddaughter speaks highly of him and says, "He was a kind man who would frequently visit schools to share stories about Pearl Harbor, World War II and the Great Depression.” Lou Conter died at the age of 102 on April 1st, 2024 at his home in Grass Valley, California. After saving lives during the attack on Pearl Harbor, he went on to fly 29 combat missions during the Korean War. He also was an intelligence officer for a Navy carrier group and went on to establish the Navy's first SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) program.

Remembering Pearl Harbor Survivors Moving Forward

Every December 7th is designated as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. It’s during this time that we honor the 2,403 Americans who lost their lives during the attack. But the reality is that the survivors, and those lost, changed our world forever. Their sacrifice was an obvious catalyst not just for fighting Imperial Japan but for joining World War II. From the first casualty to the last survivor of Pearl Harbor, all of them deserve remembrance. Now that there are no more living Pearl Harbor survivors, it’s up to us to commemorate their service daily. We owe them our very freedom to do so. Updated by Lauren Piette 4/4/2024 Read next: 6 Veteran Charities You Need to Know About For Jobs