In Photos: Remembering Lou Conter, the last living survivor of the USS Arizona

Senator Brian Dahle introduces the Grass Valley Armed Forces Day honorary guest retired U.S. Navy Cmdr. Lou Conter, May 20, 2023, in Grass Valley California. Conter is a WWII, Korea and Vietnam veteran and the last survivor of the USS Arizona. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ramon A. Adelan)

Master Chief Jim Taylor, retired, right, Pearl Harbor Survivor Liaison at Navy Region Hawaii, greets Lou Conter, a USS Arizona (BB 39) Pearl Harbor survivor, before the start of the 72nd anniversary commemoration of the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor. This year's commemoration theme, "Sound the Alarm," examines how thousands of Americans answered the call to duty in the wake of the attack. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nardel Gervacio/Released)

Lou Conter, Pearl Harbor survivor, walks away from the USS Arizona Memorial wall at the Pearl Harbor Day Commemoration Ceremony held on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Dec. 7, 2015. Civilians, veterans, and service members came together for the 74th of Pearl Harbor to remember and give their respect to those who fought and lost their lives during the attack. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Wesley Timm/Released)

Lou Conter, John Hughes and Eduardo Hayes, all Pearl Harbor survivors, greet those who attended the Pearl Harbor Day Commemoration Ceremony held on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Dec. 7, 2015. Civilians, veterans, and service members came together for the 74th of Pearl Harbor to remember and give their respect to those who fought and lost their lives during the attack. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Wesley Timm/Released)

161207-N-GI544-1188 PEARL HARBOR (Dec. 7, 2016) Pearl Harbor survivor Lou Conter renders a hand salute as he walks through the "Walk of Honor" at the conclusion of the 75th Commemoration Event of the attacks on Pearl Harbor and Oahu at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. The 75th commemoration, co-hosted by the U.S. Military, the National Park Service and the State of Hawaii, provided veterans family members, service members and the community a chance to honor the sacrifices made by those who were present Dec. 7, 1941, as well as throughout the Pacific theater. Since the attacks, the U.S. and Japan have endured more than 70 years of continued peace, a cornerstone of security and prosperity in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. As a Pacific nation, the U.S. is committed to continue its responsibility of protecting the Pacific sea-lanes, advancing international ideals and relationships, well as delivering security, influence and responsiveness in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Laurie Dexter)

161207-N-GI544-1207 PEARL HARBOR (Dec. 7, 2016) Pearl Harbor survivor Lou Conter participates in the "Walk of Honor" at the conclusion of the 75th Commemoration Event of the attacks on Pearl Harbor and Oahu at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. The 75th commemoration, co-hosted by the U.S. Military, the National Park Service and the State of Hawaii, provided veterans family members, service members and the community a chance to honor the sacrifices made by those who were present Dec. 7, 1941, as well as throughout the Pacific theater. Since the attacks, the U.S. and Japan have endured more than 70 years of continued peace, a cornerstone of security and prosperity in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. As a Pacific nation, the U.S. is committed to continue its responsibility of protecting the Pacific sea-lanes, advancing international ideals and relationships, well as delivering security, influence and responsiveness in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Laurie Dexter)

161207-N-GI544-053 PEARL HARBOR (Dec. 7, 2016) Pearl Harbor survivor Lou Conter attends the 75th Commemoration Event of the attacks on Pearl Harbor and Oahu. The 75th commemoration, co-hosted by the U.S. Military, the National Park Service and the State of Hawaii, provided veterans family members, service members and the community a chance to honor the sacrifices made by those who were present Dec. 7, 1941, as well as throughout the Pacific theater. Since the attacks, the U.S. and Japan have endured more than 70 years of continued peace, a cornerstone of security and prosperity in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. As a Pacific nation, the U.S. is committed to continue its responsibility of protecting the Pacific sea-lanes, advancing international ideals and relationships, well as delivering security, influence and responsiveness in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Laurie Dexter)

171207-N-ZK021-0005 PEARL HARBOR (Dec. 7, 2017) Pearl Harbor survivor Lou Conter smiles at the start of the ceremony honoring the 76th Anniversary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor and Oahu at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. The 76th commemoration, co-hosted by the U.S. Military, the National Park Service and the State of Hawaii, provided veterans, family members, service members and the community a chance to honor the sacrifices made by those who were present Dec. 7, 1941, as well as throughout the Pacific theater. Since the attacks, the U.S. and Japan have endured more than 70 years of continued peace, a cornerstone of security and prosperity in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. As a Pacific nation, the U.S. is committed to continue its responsibility of protecting the Pacific sea-lanes, advancing international ideals and relationships, well as delivering security, influence and responsiveness in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Nardel Gervacio)

171207-N-ZK021-0016 PEARL HARBOR (Dec. 7, 2017) Pearl Harbor survivor Lou Conter salutes visitors and attendees during the Walk of Honor at the conclusion of the ceremony honoring the 76th Anniversary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor and Oahu at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. The 76th commemoration, co-hosted by the U.S. Military, the National Park Service and the State of Hawaii, provided veterans, family members, service members and the community a chance to honor the sacrifices made by those who were present Dec. 7, 1941, as well as throughout the Pacific theater. Since the attacks, the U.S. and Japan have endured more than 70 years of continued peace, a cornerstone of security and prosperity in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. As a Pacific nation, the U.S. is committed to continue its responsibility of protecting the Pacific sea-lanes, advancing international ideals and relationships, well as delivering security, influence and responsiveness in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Nardel Gervacio)

171207-N-YW024-0022 PEARL HARBOR (Dec. 7, 2017) Louis "Lou" Conter, a Pearl Harbor survivor, poses for a photo during the 76th Commemoration Event of the attacks on Pearl Harbor and Oahu at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. The 76th commemoration, co-hosted by the U.S. Military, the National Park Service and the State of Hawaii, provided veterans, family members, service members and the community a chance to honor the sacrifices made by those who were present Dec. 7, 1941, as well as throughout the Pacific theater. Since the attacks, the U.S. and Japan have endured more than 70 years of continued peace, a cornerstone of security and prosperity in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. As a Pacific nation, the U.S. is committed to continue its responsibility of protecting the Pacific sea-lanes, advancing international ideals and relationships, well as delivering security, influence and responsiveness in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Katarzyna Kobiljak)

191207-N-KR702-1122 PEARL HARBOR (Dec. 7, 2019) Lou Conter, USS Arizona Survivor, gives personal remarks about fellow survivor Lauren Bruner during his sunset interment ceremony as part of the 78th Anniversary Pearl Harbor Remembrance Commemoration, Dec. 7. The honor of interment aboard USS Arizona is reserved only for surviving crew members of the Dec. 7, 1941 attacks. Bruner is the 44th and final survivor to join his shipmates within the memorial. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Holly L. Herline)

191207-N-BR087-1025 PEARL HARBOR (Dec. 7, 2019) USS Arizona Survivor Lou Conter salutes during fellow survivor Lauren Bruner's sunset interment ceremony as part of the 78th Anniversary Pearl Harbor Remembrance Commemoration, Dec. 7. The honor of interment aboard USS Arizona is reserved only for surviving crew members of the Dec. 7, 1941 attacks. Bruner is the 44th and final survivor to join his shipmates within the memorial. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Cole C. Pielop)

Pearl Harbor Survivor Lou Conter and his wife Val pose for a picture at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center before the start of the 72nd anniversary commemoration of the Dec. 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. This year's commemoration theme, "Sound the Alarm," examines how thousands of Americans answered the call to duty in the wake of the attack. More than 2,500 people attended the event. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nardel Gervacio/Released)

PEARL HARBOR (Dec. 6, 2016) Petty Officer 2nd Class Sarah Meadows, from Marion, Ill., talks with Pearl Harbor survivor Lou Conter, 95, of Grass Valley, Calif., during a scheduled meet and greet. Dec. 7, 2016, marks the 75th anniversary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor and Oahu. As a Pacific nation, the U.S. is committed to continue its responsibility of protecting the Pacific sea-lanes, advancing international ideals and relationships, well as delivering security, influence, and responsiveness in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Aiyana Paschal/Released)

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM (Dec. 5, 2019) Pearl Harbor Survivor Lou Conter greets fellow Pearl Harbor Survivor Tom Foreman at the USS Arizona Memorial on December 5, 2019. The U.S. Navy brought Pearl Harbor Survivors, WWII Veterans and honored guests out to the USS Arizona Memorial for a small evening gathering prior to the National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day on December 7, 2019. (U.S. Navy photo by Erin Huggins/Released)

Senator Brian Dahle introduces the Grass Valley Armed Forces Day honorary guest retired U.S. Navy Cmdr. Lou Conter, May 20, 2023, in Grass Valley California. Conter is a WWII, Korea and Vietnam veteran and the last survivor of the USS Arizona. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ramon A. Adelan)

161202-N-WC566-023 PEARL HARBOR (Dec. 2, 2016) Sideboys render honor to Pearl Harbor survivor Lou Conter during a wreath laying ceremony to honor the fallen men of the Pennsylvania-class battleship USS Arizona, at the National Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl in Honolulu. Conter was a 20-year-old quartermaster 3rd class when he escaped the burning wreckage of USS Arizona. Dec. 7, 2016, marks the 75th anniversary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor and Oahu. The U.S. military and the State of Hawaii are hosting a series of remembrance events throughout the week to honor the courage and sacrifices of those who served during Dec. 7, 1941, and throughout the Pacific Theater. As a Pacific nation, the U.S. is committed to continue its responsibility of protecting the Pacific sea-lanes, advancing international ideals and relationships, well as delivering security, influence and responsiveness in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Gabrielle Joyner/Released)