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Snapshots from the life of USS Arizona survivor Lou Conter

Lou Conter, the last living survivor of the USS Arizona battleship that exploded and sank during the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, died on Monday, April 1, following congestive heart failure, his daughter said. He was 102.

Craig T. Kojima

By Jamm Aquino, Craig T. Kojima, Diane S. W. Lee, George F. Lee and Cindy Ellen Russell / Star-Advertiser, Elias Funez/The Union via AP, Rich Pedroncelli/AP

April 1, 2024

Hawaii Photos

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Video by Diane S. W. Lee with courtesy footage from the U.S. Department of Defense
Lou Conter, the last survivor of the USS Arizona, died at his home Monday morning in Grass Valley, California at the age of 102. Conter spoke to the Star-Advertiser in December 2019 to share his experience during the Pearl Harbor attacks on Dec. 7, 1941.
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GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARADVERTISER.COM

Pearl Harbor survivor Lou Conter salutes the colors during ceremonies at Punchbowl marking the 62nd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 2003.
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JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM

Lou Conter, middle, is escorted by Park Ranger Christine Carr, left, and Chief James Reid as they secure a wreath to the commemorative pole for the USS Arizona during the 68th Annual Pearl Harbor Day Commemoration Monday, Dec. 7, 2009 at Pearl Harbor Naval Base.
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STAR-ADVERTISER

The Pearl Harbor 71st Anniversary Commemoration theme is "Coming of Age — From Innocence to Valor." Highlights of the commemoration ceremony include keynote speaker Adm. Cecil D. Haney, commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet, military band music, a traditional Hawaiian blessing, rifle salute, wreath presentations and a moment of silence at 7:55 a.m. After the ceremony, some of the Pearl Harbor survivors and military representatives, including Rear Admiral Frank Ponds (Commander, Navy Region Hawaii and Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific) and Admiral Cecil Haney (Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet) visited the Arizona Memorial to lay floral wreaths and pay their respects. After the wreath laying, Pearl Harbor survivor, Lou Conter (center) is with his great-great granddaughter, Mychael Pope (4 1/4). He was introducing her to Admiral Cecil D. Haney, Commander, U.S Pacific Fleet (right) but she was shy. Lou was Quartermaster 3rd class on the quarter deck on the USS Arizona when the ship was hit. He said when the attack started, he and another quartermaster was to go to the ship's bridge. He was supposed to be the second one to go, but the explosion put an end to that.
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GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARADVERTISER.COM

USS Arizona survivor Lou Conter recalled his days and nights performing shore patrol along Hotel Street. He was in attendance on Thursday night's meet and greet at Smith's Union Bar in December 2014.
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CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM

USS Arizona survivor Lou Conter is all smiles during a press conference on Dec. 2, 2014.
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CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM

USS Arizona survivor Lou Conter, pours an imaginary drink for Donald Stratton during a press conference on Dec. 2, 2014.
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STAR-ADVERTISER

On Dec. 7, 2014, USS Arizona survivors from left to right: Donald Gay Stratton, Lou Conter, John Delmar Anderson, Lauren Fay Bruner give a toast for the USS Arizona Reunion: Final Toast at WWII Valor in the Pacific National Monument in Pearl Harbor on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014. A bottle of sparkling wine given to President Gerald Ford in 1975 to commemorate his visit to Madrid was uncorked to celebrate the day.
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JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM

Pearl Harbor survivors, including USS Arizona survivor Lou Conter, left, salute towards the USS Chung-Hoon during a Pass-in-Review during the 73rd annual memorial service of the Dec. 7 attack on Pearl Harbor on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014 at the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu.
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JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM

USS Arizona survivor Lou Conter kisses the forehead of Arizona Governor Jan Brewer while aboard the Arizona Memorial during the 73rd annual memorial service of the Dece. 7 attack on Pearl Harbor on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014 at the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu.
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JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM

USS Arizona survivor Lou Conter is silhouetted with the setting moon in the background during the 73rd annual memorial service of the Dec. 7 attack on Pearl Harbor on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014 at the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu.
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CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM

On Dec. 7, 2015, USS Arizona survivor Lou Conter pauses at the USS Arizona Memorial to pay tribute to his fallen shipmates who were killed in the Pearl Harbor attacks.
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CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM

On Dec. 7, 2015, USS Arizona survivor Lou Conter pauses at the USS Arizona Memorial to pay tribute to his fallen shipmates who were killed in the Pearl Harbor attacks.
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CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM

USS Arizona survivor Lou Conter attends the wreath laying ceremony held at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific on a Friday afternoon in December 2016.
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CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM

Lou Conter attends the Pearl Harbor 75th Commemoration, in December 2016, at Kilo Pier.
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CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM

Lou Conter attends the Pearl Harbor 75th Commemoration, in December 2016, at Kilo Pier.
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STAR-ADVERTISER

Retired Lt. Commander Lou Conter, one of three remaining survivors of the USS Arizona, is given a special gate-side welcome by Hawaiian Airlines at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport upon his arrival at HNL via HA19 (from Sacramento) to attend the 2019 National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, and is expected to be the last USS Arizona survivor to join the annual ceremony. Lou Conter is pictured with his son, Jim Conter and daughter, Louann Daley.
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STAR-ADVERTISER

Retired Lt. Commander Lou Conter, one of three remaining survivors of the USS Arizona, is given a special gate-side welcome by Hawaiian Airlines at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport upon his arrival at HNL via HA19 (from Sacramento) to attend the 2019 National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, and is expected to be the last USS Arizona survivor to join the annual ceremony. Conter poses for a photo with US Navy personnel from the USS Michael Murphy and Special Projects Patrol Squadron VPU-2, who served as sideboys upon his red carpet arrival.
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STAR-ADVERTISER

Retired Lt. Commander Lou Conter, one of three remaining survivors of the USS Arizona, is given a special gate-side welcome by Hawaiian Airlines at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport upon his arrival at HNL via HA19 (from Sacramento) to attend the 2019 National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, and is expected to be the last USS Arizona survivor to join the annual ceremony.
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DIANE S. W. LEE / DLEE@STARADVERTISER.COM

USS Arizona survivor Lou Conter, 98, signs an autograph for Home of the Brave Hawaii president Glen Tomlinson on Dec. 9, 2019.
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DIANE S. W. LEE / DLEE@STARADVERTISER.COM

USS Arizona survivor Lou Conter, 98, visited Home of the Brave Hawaii on a recent Monday to share memories of Dec. 7, 1941 when the Japanese launched a surprise aerial attack on Pearl Harbor. Museum president Glen Tomlinson hired a videographer to film promotional videos to help save the museum.
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DIANE S. W. LEE / DLEE@STARADVERTISER.COM

USS Arizona survivor Lou Conter, 98, visited Home of the Brave Hawaii on Dec. 9, 2019, to share memories of Dec. 7, 1941 when the Japanese launched a surprise aerial attack on Pearl Harbor. Museum president Glen Tomlinson hired a videographer to film promotional videos to help save the museum.
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THE UNION VIA AP

WWII Veteran and USS Arizona survivor Lou Conter waves as visitors salute in honor of his 99th birthday in front of his home in Grass Valley, Calif., Sept. 12, 2020. Conter, the last living survivor of the USS Arizona battleship that exploded and sank during the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, died on Monday, April 1, following congestive heart failure, his daughter said. He was 102.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pearl Harbor survivor Lou Conter, 101, holds a framed replica of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin of Dec. 7, 1941 at his home in Grass Valley, Calif., Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. Conter survived the devastating explosion that destroyed the battleship, USS Arizona, during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

A photo of Pearl Harbor survivor Lou Conter, 101, as seen as a young sailor, is displayed at his home in Grass Valley, Calif., Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. Conter survived the devastating explosion that destroyed the battleship, USS Arizona, during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941. A diagram of the Arizona is also displayed, left.

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