Has Anyone Met A WWII Pearl Harbor Survivor? What Are Your Stories?

No I have not personally met a WWII Pearl Harbor survivor of the Dec 7, 1941 attack SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL. However I did get to hear a veteran of that attack describe what happened to his son who I worked with a decade ago at the company that terminated me back in 2013.

I spent several years with a Boy Scout troop in my hometown. One of the Scout leaders was a Pearl Harbor veteran. He was on board the Nevada on December 7. His GQ station was in the gun control tub on the tripod mast. He told of looking down on Japanese aircraft making their torpedo runs. He stayed aboard Nevada for the entire war, including going to the Atlantic for the D-Day landings and then returning to the Pacific for the rest of the war. We had a lot of conversations over the years concerning his life during WW II. I had the honor of conducting his Masonic funeral service which I did in my dress blues. Max was truly one of the greatest generation.

Years ago, I had the honor to meet Lt. John Finn, MOH at a gathering of Aviation Ordnancemen. He was a Chief Aviation Ordnanceman on Dec 7, 1941, and manned a .50 cal and continuously fired back against the attacking Zero's receiving 21 distinct wounds and only leaving the battle field when ordered to do so by a superior officer to get medical help. After getting patched up he returned to his squadron to help rearm the returning planes. He was awarded the Medal of Honor by Bull Halsey on the decks of the USS Enterprise. He died on May 27, 2010 at 100 years of age. He was a fascinating person to talk to. he loved his NAVY and he loved his COUNTRY. The USS John Finn DDG -113 is a fitting tribute to a Fighting Sailor!