Warren Upton, the oldest known survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor and the last living crew member of the USS Utah, passed away at the age of 105. Upton, who endured the horrors of December 7, 1941, and lived to bear witness to the sacrifices of his generation, succumbed to pneumonia on Wednesday in a hospital in Los Gatos, California, according to Kathleen Farley, president of the California chapter of Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors.
The passing of Upton marks a solemn moment in history. Of the estimated 87,000 military personnel stationed on Oahu during the attack that propelled the United States into World War II, only 15 survivors remain.
A Day of Infamy: The Attack That Changed Everything
The USS Utah, a battleship moored in Pearl Harbor, was among the first vessels struck during the Japanese surprise attack. Upton, then a 22-year-old sailor, was preparing to shave when he felt the ship shudder violently under the impact of a torpedo.
“At first, none of us knew what had hit the ship,” Upton recalled in a 2020 interview. A second torpedo struck soon after, causing the battleship to list and capsize. As chaos engulfed the harbor, Upton swam to Ford Island under a hail of enemy fire. He sought refuge in a trench for 30 harrowing minutes before being rescued by a truck that carried him to safety.
Despite the trauma of that day, Upton rarely dwelled on the attack itself. What haunted him more, he said, was the steady loss of his shipmates and fellow survivors over the decades. By 2020, only three crew members of the Utah were still alive, including Upton.
A Legacy of Courage and Reflection
The attack on Pearl Harbor remains one of the most pivotal moments in American history. That morning, Japanese forces launched an aerial assault that destroyed or damaged nearly 20 U.S. naval vessels and over 300 aircraft. More than 2,400 Americans lost their lives, and another 1,000 were wounded. For many, including Upton, it marked the beginning of a lifetime defined by resilience.
Despite the devastation, Upton lived a long and remarkable life, carrying the memories of his shipmates and the lessons of Pearl Harbor with him. His story served as a reminder of the courage and sacrifice of the Greatest Generation.
J. Michael Wenger, a military historian, estimates that of the thousands who bore witness to the “day of infamy,” only 15 survivors now remain. Their voices grow quieter, but their stories endure.
Honoring a US Hero
As the commander of the Pearl Harbor Veterans Association bid farewell to Upton during a recent ceremony, the weight of history was palpable. His handshake with Upton symbolized a bridge between the past and present, a gesture of gratitude for a life lived with courage and dignity.
The death of Warren Upton underscores the urgency of preserving the stories of those who witnessed and survived Pearl Harbor. For as their numbers dwindle, so too does the firsthand connection to a chapter of history that shaped the modern world.
Upton’s legacy will live on in the memories of his family, the reverence of historians, and the gratitude of a nation. He was a survivor, a storyteller, and above all, a testament to the enduring human spirit.
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