Bronze Star Ceremony on the USS Arizona
















CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM
USN Chief Boatswain’s Mate Joseph L. George received the Bronze Star with valor posthumously at a ceremony held on the USS Arizona Memorial on Thursday. George threw a line from the USS Vestal to the burning USS Arizona and saved six sailors who climbed the rope, hand over hand, to safety when Pearl Harbor was attacked on Dec 7, 1941. Pictured weeping during the ceremony is Joseph George's daughter JoeAnn Taylor with her husband Gary Taylor beside her. Taylor received the medal in her father's honor.CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM
JoeAnn Taylor with WWII veterans and USS Arizona survivors Don Stratton, left, and Lauren Bruner, right, after receiving the medal in her father's honor. Both veterans were saved by her father's heroic action.CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM
Entering the memorial is WWII veteran and USS Arizona survivors Don Stratton with his son Randy behind him. Stratton was one of the six men saved by Joseph George's action.CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM
WWII veterans and USS Arizona survivors Don Stratton, left, and Lauren Bruner at the ceremony. Stratton and Bruner were two of the six men who were saved by Joseph George’s action and are holding a rope tied with a monkey fist knot similar to what was thrown to them.CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM
Detail of the bronze star USN Chief Boatswain’s Mate Joseph L. George received.CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM
Don Stratton, left, shakes hands with Lauren Bruner after arriving at the ceremonies.CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM
Louis Conter, middle, salutes as he leaves the ceremony.CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM
Servicemen salute during Rifle Salute.