The USS North Carolina (BB-55) My all-time favorite warship. As an elementary school student in North Carolina, I donated nickels and dimes to save this ship back in the early sixties.

Friday, June 12, 2015

Pearl Harbor Survivor Edward Wentzlaff Died in 2013: "Some Moments Are Too Ghastly"

From the September 11, 2013, Minneapolis Star-Tribune obituary by Kevin Giles.

It is believed that Edward Wentzlaff, 95, died Sept. 10, was the last Minnesota USS Arizona survivor.  He farm,ed near Milaca for most of his life and revisited Pearl Harbor at least ten times.  H
Joining the Navy in 1937, he was on the forward deck of the Arizona awaiting for church service to begin.

He credits his survival on a split-second decision to run to his battle station instead of going below deck (where the explosion took place)    He recalled: "Some moments are too ghastly to remember.  Some are so horrible that they defy forgetting."

Ten years ago, Mr. Wentzlaff returned to Pearl Harbor where only ten Arizona survivors attended.

There are only a few Pearl Harbor survivors still living in Minnesota.  Richard Thill was on the USS Ward and says it is hard to count survivors because so many have relocated to nursing homes.

The Greatest Generation.  --GreGen

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