Lou Conter, the final living survivor of the USS Arizona battleship that was attacked and sank during the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, has died at the age of 102. According to his daughter, Louann Daley, Conter passed away on Monday at his home in Grass Valley, California, due to congestive heart failure. His daughter and two of his brothers were by his side during his final moments.

The USS Arizona, which lost 1,177 sailors and Marines in the devastating attack, accounted for nearly half of the total casualties on that fateful day, which propelled the United States into World War II. Conter, who served as a quartermaster on the Arizona, was on the main deck of the battleship when the Japanese planes flew overhead at 7:55 a.m. on December 7th, 1941. He vividly recalled the horrifying moments when the ship was struck by a bomb that triggered a massive explosion, lifting the battleship out of the water and setting everything ablaze.

In his autobiography titled "The Lou Conter Story," Conter chronicled the aftermath of the attack, as he and other survivors worked relentlessly to tend to the injured and rescue those still alive. It was only when their senior surviving officer was certain that all survivors had been saved that they reluctantly abandoned ship. The rusting wreckage of the USS Arizona remains at the bottom of the harbor as a solemn reminder of the lives lost.

Following his service on the USS Arizona, Conter went on to flight school and flew PBY patrol bombers, participating in over 200 combat missions in the Pacific. He was part of the "Black Cats" squadron, known for their night-time dive bombing operations in planes painted black. In 1943, Conter and his crew were shot down near New Guinea and forced to survive in shark-infested waters until they were rescued.

Conter's contributions to the Navy extended beyond his combat experiences. In the late 1950s, he became the Navy's first SERE officer, responsible for training pilots and crew on survival, evasion, resistance, and escape techniques. His teachings later proved invaluable to some of his students who became prisoners of war in Vietnam.

Lou Conter retired from the Navy in 1967 after serving for 28 years. Born in Ojibwa, Wisconsin, in 1921, Conter lived a remarkable life that spanned the trials of war and the subsequent years of peacetime. His presence at annual remembrance ceremonies in Pearl Harbor, where he shared his experiences and paid tribute to those who lost their lives, became a symbol of resilience and strength.

With Lou Conter's passing, there are now only 19 survivors of the Pearl Harbor attack left. His death marks the end of an era and serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by those who fought in World War II. The family plans to bury Conter in Grass Valley, California, alongside his beloved late wife Valerie.

As we bid farewell to Lou Conter, we honor the heroes who gave their lives on that fateful day in Pearl Harbor, while also acknowledging the courage and indomitable spirit of those like Conter who survived to share their stories. Their sacrifices and bravery will forever be remembered in the annals of history.