Two Oldest Pearl Harbor Survivors Meet

FromJuly 3, 2015, NBC 7, San Diego "2 of the Oldest Known Pearl Harbor Survivors Reunite 74 Years Later" by Matt Rascon.

Ray Chavez, 103, and Jim Downey, 102, got together in San Diego on July 3, 2015.  They were both there that day, but this is the first time they've met.

Jim Downing lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado and had believed he was the oldest survivor until he recently read about Mr. Chavez.  He, however, says he'll take Chavez's word and won't be checking any birth certificates.  That day he was 28 and stationed aboard the battleship USS West Virginia and says he remembers "most of what happened just as clear as if it were last week."  He was not on the ship during the attack, but believes that if he had been, he'd have been killed.

Ray Chavez was aboard a ship sweeping restricted waters when they spotted a Japanese submarine and alerted other ships, one of which sank the submarine.  He then went home (before the attack) and his wife awoke him with news of the attack.

Great That They Finally Met.  -0-GreGen