Last USS Arizona survivor dies at 102; flags ordered at half-staff

Hawai‘i Gov. Josh Green ordered the U.S. and Hawaiʻi state flags to be flown at half-staff at the state Capitol in Honolulu and all state offices and agencies, as well as the Hawaiʻi National Guard, effective from sunrise Wednesday to sunset Friday to honor Lou Carter, the last survivor of the USS Arizona, who died April 1 at the age of 102.

Carter and many of his 335 shipmates who survived the attack distinguished themselves by rescuing many of their brethren and continued to serve the U.S. Navy with dignity and honor.

The Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor took 1,177 Arizona crewmembers’ lives.

“Lou Conter is one of the greatest examples of the Greatest Generation,” said Green. “After surviving the Pearl Harbor attack, he not only stayed in the Navy, but he went to flight school and ultimately flew some 200 combat missions, including getting shot down while contributing to the rescue of his Black Cats squadron near New Guinea. We are forever grateful to Lou and all those who served aboard the USS Arizona and on all of the other ships in Pearl Harbor on that fateful day. Hawai‘i and America salute their service and their memory.”