Louis Conter

 Louis Conter

Louis Anthony Conter, USN (Ret.), the last living Survivor of the sinking of the USS Arizona during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, has passed.

He was born on September 13, 1921 in Ojibwa, Wisconsin.

He joined the Peacetime Navy in November 1939.

On the morning of December 7^th, Conter was on watch on the Quarterdeck Station between the Third Turret and Main Deck, when the ship was attacked by a Squadron of Japanese Torpedo Planes and Bombers at 8 am.

Five minutes later, the Arizona was struck by a 1,760-pound (800 kg) bomb between the First and Second Turret, which ignited the ship's ammunition magazine.

The following explosion blew off the ship's bow and lifted the Battleship out of the water, knocking over Conter while killing and injuring many others. As the ship burned and started to sink, she was hit by more Japanese projectiles.

Meanwhile, Conter was aiding fellow wounded Sailors, keeping them from jumping in the burning oil covering the water's surface. When Conter was already knee deep in water, the Captain gave the order to abandon Ship and Conter took to the lifeboats.

The Arizona sank in 9 minutes, taking the lives of 1,177 of her Crew. Her 334 surviving Crew struggled to escape the burning ruins, of which Conter saved several by pulling them out of the water into his lifeboat before rowing to shore.

Following the attack, Conter spent several weeks helping to put out fires and recovering the bodies of the fallen.

After the US entered World War 2 Conter joined a Flight School. He received his Pilot Wings in November 1942 and participated in several overnight Bombing Raids using Black Cats in the South Pacific.

He was shot down twice over the Pacific during his aerial career, but managed to use a raft to row to shore on both occasions. Conter went on to serve in the New Guinea Campaign and the European Theater at the end of the War.

After the War ended in 1945 Conter joined the Reserves.

He saw action again during the Korean War in the 1950s, serving on the Aircraft Carrier USS Bon Homme Richard.

Conter decided to retire from the Navy in December 1967, having achieved the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

Louis Conter died today (April 1, 2024) in Grass Valley, California, at the age of 102.