Final survivor of USS Arizona sinking in Pearl Harbor attack dies at 102

Lou Conter, the final survivor of the the USS Arizona's sinking during the 1941 Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, has died at the age of 102.

The attack saw the Empire of Japan's 1st Air Fleet under Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto assault the pivotal American naval base in Hawaii and sink several U.S. battleships, including the Arizona, while damaging several more battleships and sinking numerous support craft. The battle served as the primary catalyst for American entry into World War II.

Conter's family confirmed his passing on Monday at his home in Grass Valley, Calif., according to the Associated Press. The cause of death was congestive heart failure.

During the Japanese assault, Conter was serving as a quartermaster aboard the Arizona, the destruction of which resulted in heavy casualties. In total, 1,177 crewmen were killed, with more than 900 remaining aboard the submerged ship to this day. Conter was the last of the 335 survivors.

While the attack inflicted heavy damage upon the American fleet, many of the battleships apart from the Arizona were ultimately raised and saw service in the conflict with Japan. The battleship remains submerged in Pearl Harbor and rests below a floating memorial to the dead.

Conter, for his part, went to flight school after the attack and ultimately flew 200 combat missions during the war. He retired from the Navy in 1967.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.