In a heartbreaking turn of events, the last living survivor of the sinking of the USS Arizona during the Pearl Harbor attack, Lou Conter, has passed away at the age of 102. Conter, who resided in Grass Valley, California, was a mere 20 years old when the attack took place on December 7, 1941.

During the devastating attack, which claimed the lives of 2,403 Americans, including 1,177 crew members of the USS Arizona, Conter miraculously survived along with only 335 officers and crewmen. Throughout the years, Conter bravely shared his harrowing experiences, making it his mission to ensure the memory of those who perished in the attack was never forgotten.

Conter's dedication to remembering the fallen led him to visit Hawaii for remembrance ceremonies, where he recounted the tragic events of that fateful day. Speaking to CBS13 in 2022, Conter vividly described the moment the ship exploded, stating, "Minute it happened, we sounded general quarters and they were in there and we blew up in about eight minutes, nine minutes."

Remarkably, Conter's service to his country did not end with the attack on Pearl Harbor. He went on to serve in three wars and flew an astounding 200 missions as a pilot, enduring the perils of war and even surviving being shot down twice.

On Monday, April 1, Conter's daughter confirmed the passing of the heroic veteran, who had succumbed earlier that morning. Conter's death marks another solemn reminder of the dwindling number of survivors from the Pearl Harbor attack, as fewer than two dozen remain alive in 2024.

As most of these survivors are now in their 90s or older, the population of living World War II veterans continues to decline rapidly. According to the National World War II Museum, there are currently approximately 119,000 of the 16.1 million Americans who served in World War II still alive today, with an average of 131 passing away each day.

Lou Conter's death serves as a somber reminder of the sacrifices and resilience of those who served during World War II. His dedication to sharing his story and honoring the fallen will forever be ingrained in the collective memory of a grateful nation.