Lauren Bruner Returns to Pearl Harbor 75 Years Afterwards-- Part 3: Horrendously Burned

Lauren Bruner described the experience of being on the Arizona, "You're like a chicken getting barbecued."

Doctors on the USS Solace, a hospital ship, wanted to amputate most of his hands, leaving just forefingers and thumbs.  Fortunately, they didn't. They peeled off the burned, dead skin and let new skin grow to replace it.  They put him in a special bed with hoops that allowed sheets to be draped above him but not touch him.

Recently discovered Navy Department records show that he had burns on his face, back of his neck, his right shoulder, right arm and forearm, fingers, hands, outer thighs and lower legs.  The burns on his right arm were particularly bad.

--GreGen