(RightIsRight.co) – A true American hero from the Greatest Generation has left us, leaving a huge mark on history and signaling the end of an era.
Warren Upton, the last survivor of the USS Utah and oldest living survivor of the Pearl Harbor attack, passed away at 105.
Upton’s passing on in Los Gatos, California, closes a chapter in American history.
At 22, he was aboard the USS Utah when Japanese forces launched their infamous attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
This unprovoked assault plunged America into World War II and forever changed the course of the nation.
Upton’s heroic actions during the attack symbolize the courage and quick thinking that saved countless lives that day.
As Japanese torpedoes hit the USS Utah and began to capsize, Upton managed to escape and swim to Ford Island. Despite the chaos and danger, he even helped another sailor reach safety.
“It was quite an inferno […] they were strafing us still,” Upton told local news outlet KTVU in 2021. “I went over the side then, and slid down the side of the ship as she rolled over.”
What remains of the USS Utah lies partially submerged in Pearl Harbor, a clear reminder of those who fought bravely.
Upton led a fruitful life following his Navy service through World War II. He married Jeanne, a former Navy nurse, and started a family.
A proud member of the USS Utah and Pearl Harbor survivors’ community, Upton cherished freedom and despised the divisive politics that threatened those principles.
With Upton’s passing, only 15 survivors of the Pearl Harbor attack remain alive today.
Upton’s life reflects not only his personal experience but also the resilience of America. Like Upton, the nation emerged from the ashes of Pearl Harbor stronger and more determined.
#RIP Pearl Harbor survivor Warren "Red" Upton who passed away on Christmas Day at the age of 105. Upton was a radioman aboard USS Utah when the battleship was hit by two torpedoes on 7 December 1941. As the Utah began to roll over, he abandoned ship and swam to Ford Island,… pic.twitter.com/IQApqMRD9Z
— U.S. Naval Institute (@NavalInstitute) December 26, 2024
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