Pearl Harbor Survivor Jack Holder Dies at 101-- Part 4: 'Two Scotch and Sodas Every Night'

Jack Holder was at Pearl Harbor for the 75th anniversary of the attack.  There he shared his thoughts about the event 75 years later.

"You relive the moments.  You're so grateful for our wonderful country in which we live," he said.  You regret the scarifices, but you also exhilirate from the victory that we made and how we're doing now."

Speaking about his longevity in life he attributed it to "good heart exercise and two scotch and sodas every night."

He also shared a message to today's youth of America:  "I tried to stress with them the need to stay in school, learn all the education you can and remember that we live in the greatest country in the world, learn to respect it, and be willing to protect it."

The Greatest Generation.  --GreGen

Elementary Student to Speak at Donald Stratton's Funeral-- Part 1

From Feb. 27, 2020, WIS News 10 NBC "8-year-old Union Co. boy to speak at funeral for 97-year-old World War II veteran."   Union County, North Carolina.

Elementary school student Landon Knestrick is about to get on a plane to fly to Colorado to speak at the funeral  of USS Arizona survivor Donald Stratton.  A friendship between the two began back in 2016.

Landon watched a documentary on the USS Arizona and became mesmerized with Donald.  It was Landon's Christmas wish to meet Mr. Stratton.  His family found Donald through social media and  and FaceTimed with each other while Mr. Stratton was in Hawaii for the 75th anniversary of the battle.

From then on, their friendship continued.

The following summer, the Stratton family was traveling to Washington, D.C.,  to meet Congress to try to get them to honor the man who saved Stratton and five others from the burning Arizona that day.  That man was Joseph Leon George.

The Strattons invited Landon and his family to Washington  so they could have a face-to-face.

Quite a Story.  --GreGen

Death of Pearl Harbor Survivor Larry Parry

From the May 7, 2018, Syracuse (NY).com.

Balwinsville's Larry Parry, 97, one of the last Pearl Harbor survivors, has died.  He died May 5, 2018.

During the attack, he was 21 and an Army mechanic delivering ammunition and remembers seeing the USS Arizona blow up.

In 2014 and 2016 he returned to Pearl Harbor with about 100 other Pearl Harbor survivors.

2016 was the 75th anniversary of the attack.

So Sad to be Losing Them.  --GreGen

Obama and Japan's Leader Meet at Pearl Harbor-- Part 1

From the December 28, 2016, Chicago Tribune ""Obama, Japan's leader make hope theme where 2,403 fell" by Christi Parsons.

"Pearl Harbor, Hawaii -- President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe together scattered petals on the waters of Pearl Harbor on Tuesday in a symbolic act aimed at laying to rest the enmity surrounding the Japanese attack 75 years ago that drew the U.S. into World War II."

It was a moment in history, but both leaders were focused on the future.

There was a nice picture of Abe and Obama shaking hands with Pearl Harbor veterans.

--GreGen

USS Arizona Survivor Returns for the 75th Anniversary-- Part 1

From the December 5, 2016, ABC News/Yahoo! News   "USS Arizona Survivor Heads to Pearl Harbor 75 Years Later."

Lauren Bruner was getting ready for church on the USS Arizona that fateful day 75 years ago when the alarm sounded.  He was 21 and a bullet hit his left leg and then an explosion rocked his ship, sinking it nine minutes later.  There was a miraculous escape, but he was seriously burned.

Now, at age 96, Mr. Bruner lives in La Mirada, California, and has returned to visit Pearl Harbor many times over the years.

The U.S. Navy and National Park service expect several dozen Pearl Harbor survivors to attend this year's commemoration.

--GreGen

Commemorating Pearl Harbor

From the November 17, 2016, KHON 2, News "Waikiki parade to honor Pearl harbor survivors, service members."

This was held the Friday after Thanksgiving and was called the Waikiki Holdiday Parade.  In it were 30 bands and many Pearl Harbor survivors.

It began at 7 p.m. at Fort DeRussy.

The More Honor, the Better.  --GreGen

Pearl Harbor Survivor Raymond Salsedo Planning to Return for 75th Anniversary

From the KSL.com "Pearl Harbor survivor plans to return to Hawaii 75 years after attack" by Mark Glaugun.

Raymond Salsedo was a civilian worker in Pearl harbor that day, working in the drydock where the destroyers USS Cassin and Downes were being repaired.

He recalled: "All I hear was these boys in the drydock.  Nineteen, 20-year-old boys, sailors.  They were just hollering, 'Mother, mother, mother.'""

He had trained as a diver and underwater welder and was assigned to cut holes in the USS Oklahoma's overturned hull.  Eleven men were rescued out of his hole of the 32 total saved that way.

At home that night, he worried about another attack and built a small bomb shelter.  The next day he began work on removing the Arizona's guns.

--GreGen

Survivor Planning Trip to 75th Pearl Harbor Anniversary

From the September 30, 2016, Ledger-Independent (Ohio) "Pearl Harbor survivor plans trip to mark 75th anniversary of the attack."  Marla Toneray.

Jimmy Kimmerly, 93, of Manchester, Ohio, was 18 that day and a U.S. Fireman 3rd Class on the USS Medusa, a repair ship.  His ship was anchored on the opposite side of Ford Island, in the middle of Pearl Harbor, from Battleship Row.  His ship was hit by machine gun fire.

He graduated from Cherry Fork High School in Ohio in 1940 and wanted to see the world so joined the Navy.  He was discharged in 1946.

Since 1991, he has made several trips back to Pearl Harbor.

--GreGen

Plans for the 75th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor Underway

From the October 3, 2016, Pacific Business News "Actor Gary Sinise to attend the 75th Pearl harbor Commemoration."

Plans call for an eleven-day event and are being organized by the 75th Commemorative of Pearl Harbor Committee.  It will include concerts, movies and galas.

American Airlines will sponsor a round-trip flight for 120 of the surviving Pearl Harbor veterans from Los Angeles to Honolulu on December 3rd.

I also see that the Obamas and Tom Hanks will be in attendance.

Let's Make This a Great One.  --GreGen

T-Shirt Sales to Help Arizona Survivors Go to 75th Pearl Harbor Anniversary

From the September 20, 2016, KVOA News 4 NBC News "Sale of t-shorts to help survivors of USS Arizona go to Pearl Harbor anniversary."

A fundraiser to help the seven remaining USS Arizona survivors and their families and their families return to Pearl Harbor for the 75th anniversary, has been a huge success.

The Arizona Wildcats wore special uniforms honoring the ship at last weekend's game against Hawaii.  Many fans sported matching jerseys.

The seven survivors are all in their 90s now.  And most did not expect to still be alive for the 75th anniversary.

The t-shirts are in battleship gray and feature "At 'Em Arizona // BB-38."

--  GreGen