The generation that survived “the day which will live in infamy” grows smaller with each passing year. They were the men and women who witnessed firsthand one of the most pivotal moments in American history – a moment that transformed not just our nation, but the entire world.
These heroes, members of what we now reverently call the Greatest Generation, carried with them memories of a time when America’s very existence hung in the balance. They embodied values that seem increasingly rare today: unwavering patriotism, selfless sacrifice, and unshakeable devotion to duty.
In the early hours of December 7, 1941, nearly 87,000 American service members were stationed at Pearl Harbor. Today, only 15 remain to tell their stories.
The Last Of The Greatest Generation
Warren Upton, the oldest living survivor of the Pearl Harbor attack and the last remaining crew member of the USS Utah, has died at the age of 105. His passing marks not just the end of a life well-lived, but the closing of another precious link to that fateful December morning.
Upton died Wednesday at a hospital in Los Gatos, California. He succumbed to pneumonia, according to Kathleen Farley, the California state chair of the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors. Upton’s death represents more than just the loss of one veteran – it marks the end of the USS Utah’s living memory.
That morning in 1941, Upton was a 22-year-old Navy radioman, preparing to shave when the first torpedo struck his ship. In a 2020 interview with The Associated Press, he recalled the confusion and chaos of those moments.
“We didn’t know what had hit us,” he said, describing how the second torpedo’s impact sent the massive battleship listing to one side.
What followed demonstrated the kind of quick thinking and courage that defined his generation. As the Utah began to capsize, Upton not only managed to swim to safety but also helped a fellow sailor who couldn’t swim reach Ford Island. His actions that day embodied the American spirit: facing unimaginable adversity with both personal courage and concern for others.
After reaching shore, Upton took cover in a trench for approximately 30 minutes until a truck arrived to transport him to safety. Fifty-eight of his USS Utah shipmates weren’t as fortunate, many trapped as the vessel rolled over.
Preserving Our American Legacy
Upton’s service to this great nation didn’t end at Pearl Harbor. Indeed, he continued serving as a radioman throughout World War II. He was part of the massive American response to what President Franklin D. Roosevelt called the “unprovoked and dastardly attack” that brought America into the global conflict.
After the war, like many of his generation, Upton returned home to build the America we inherited. He married Gene, a former Navy nurse, raised a family, and lived the kind of quiet, dignified life that characterized so many of our World War II veterans. His wife preceded him in death in 2018 after a marriage that spanned decades.
In his later years, Upton shared his memories of Pearl Harbor, though not for personal glory. As he told the AP in 2020, what troubled him most wasn’t recounting the attack, but watching his fellow USS Utah survivors pass away one by one. Upton’s concern wasn’t for himself, but for the preservation of their collective memory.
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