A USS Arizona survivor returns to his ship
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
Here's your daily dose of decency:
Raymond Haerry arrived back home in Hawaii last Saturday after a flight from the East Coast, where an airline and some firefighters cared enough to recognize him.
Raymond was one of the last survivors of the sinking of the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor. He died last fall at 94.
His wish was to be buried with his shipmates.
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
So on Saturday, the Navy made it happen.
The urn containing his ashes was lowered to four Navy divers, who first saluted him...
... and then swam off to carry Haerry home.
Haerry is the 42nd survivor of the Arizona to return to the ship.
"That brotherhood doesn't go away and as he got closer to the end of life, it resonated with him," his granddaughter told the Associated Press. "He didn't want to see the site or relive that disaster, but he wanted to relive that camaraderie."
There are now only five survivors still living. The youngest is 94.