Lou Conter, the last living survivor of the USS Arizona battleship that was sunk during the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, passed away at the age of 102. A quartermaster aboard the ship on December 7, 1941, Conter witnessed the devastation of the surprise attack that launched the United States into World War II. Recalling the chaos and destruction caused by the Japanese planes overhead, Conter’s autobiography detailed how he and other survivors tended to the injured and rescued those still alive before abandoning ship.
Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Conter continued his military career, becoming a trained pilot and part of a “Black Cats” squadron that conducted night-time bombing missions in the Pacific. He flew over 200 combat missions and survived being shot down in waters near New Guinea, showing his crew the importance of remaining calm in dangerous situations. In the late 1950s, Conter became the Navy’s first Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) officer, spending a decade training Navy pilots and crew on survival tactics if they were shot down in the jungle and captured as prisoners of war.
Born in Ojibwa, Wisconsin, in 1921, Conter enlisted in the Navy at the age of 18 and served for 28 years before retiring in 1967. Despite his heroic actions and remarkable service, Conter refused to label himself as a hero, instead emphasizing the importance of honoring the 2,403 men who lost their lives in the Pearl Harbor attack. Conter attended annual remembrance ceremonies at Pearl Harbor until his health declined, recording video messages for attendees from his home in California.
The USS Arizona, where Conter served during the attack on Pearl Harbor, remains entombed in the waters where it sank, with over 900 sailors and Marines still inside. Conter’s firsthand account of the assault, documented in his autobiography and oral history interviews, serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by those who served in World War II. Despite facing danger and adversity throughout his military career, Conter’s resilience and commitment to survival defined his legacy and inspired those who trained under him.
Though he may have left this world, Lou Conter’s memory will live on through his remarkable achievements and the stories he shared about his experiences during World War II. As the last living survivor of the USS Arizona, Conter’s passing marks the end of an era, but his impact on future generations of servicemen and women will continue to be felt for years to come. As the nation mourns the loss of a true American hero, Conter’s legacy serves as a reminder of the courage and sacrifice displayed by those who served their country during its darkest hours.
