Thanks to an email we received about a week ago, Budd Nease has located and verified another living USS Arizona Survivor.

Earl William Riner, GM3c on 7 December 1941, is alive and well, living in Texas. We hope to have more information about Mr. Riner soon.

Happily, this brings our total of known living survivors back to 24.

If you have any information about a living survivor not found on our list of Known Living Survivors, please CONTACT US to share this information. We currently have about a dozen or so USS Arizona survivors not accounted for. We don't want any of these heros to be forgotten. Thank you.

Trina McCurdy, granddaughter of Survivor , Russell J. McCurdy, USMC, died suddenly over the past weekend. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alan McCurdy, and the niece of Sandra (McCurdy) Fuller.

A few years ago (1999) Trina wrote a beautiful poem. Remember Pearl Harbor as a tribute to her grandfather Russ, who was still alive. You can read the poem on our Poetry Page.

Budd Nease




The Herald Press
Trina Rachel McCurdy 1972 - 2008 Trina Rachel McCurdy, 36, Huntington, passed away at 9 p.m. on Friday, April 11, 2008 at her residence.

She was born on January 20, 1972 in Huntington to Alan and Beverly (Schoeff) McCurdy, who both survive.

Trina was a 1990 graduate of Huntington North High School and a 1997 graduate of Huntington University, where she earned a degree in business.

She worked at General Motors for five years as a quality engineer, as well as in the same capacity at Therma-Tru Doors, Butler.

Trina was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Huntington, and enjoyed writing, arts and crafts.

She is survived by her mother, Beverly Skepnek, Norridge, Illinois; her father, Alan McCurdy and wife Kim, Huntington; one son, Joel McCurdy, Huntington; two brothers, Justin McCurdy and wife Kelli, Huntington, and Alex McCurdy, Huntington; one sister, Melissa Skeel and husband Gary, Fort Wayne; her grandfather, Carl Schoeff, Huntington; and step-brother, Tighe Warner, Huntington.

She was preceded in death by two grandmothers, June Schoeff and Pearl McCurdy; and one grandfather, Russell McCurdy.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Wednesday at Deal-Rice Funeral Home-Huntington Chapel, with Bishop Larry Deutsch officiating.

Graveside services will follow at Lancaster Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home.

Preferred memorials may be sent to the family c/o Deal-Rice Funeral Home, 338 E. Washington Street, Huntington, IN 46750.

Online condolences may be sent to www.dealricefuneralhomes.com.

Received word today that USS Arizona Survivor Ralph W. Landreth (Division 4) passed away on March 26, 2008. The service and burial were held on Friday April 3, 2008 at the Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, Florida.

There are 23 known living USS Arizona Survivors still alive.

From Virginia Landreth: Ralph Landreth passed away March 26, 2008 in Rockledge, Florida. His final interment was at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida on April 3. He is survived by his wife, Virginia, daughters Karen and Susan, and Grandson Robert Horne.

He was a GM2c in turret 4 on the U.S.S. Arizona on December 7, 1941. He had just bought the Sunday paper and was headed down to his living quarters in the turret when he saw the low flying planes with the red circle and thought to himself how realistic they had gotten with the drills! When the general quarters alarm went off; he quickly headed to his battle station in the gun pits. He was knocked off his feet from the first big explosion and lost all communications; it was not possible to use the guns. After most of the noise had stopped and he had watched the men come up from the lower handling room go up to the quarterdeck above, he decided to go up too. The admiral’s barge was there, he stepped into it along with about 5 other men for the ride to Ford Island. He remembers getting into the water to assist a swimmer who was trying to climb up the slippery rocks at the boat landing on Ford Island. He thinks he was one of the last crew members to get off the Arizona alive. After checking into the Quonset hut on Ford Island, he volunteered to help in pulling bodies from the oil slicked water (there was no one swimming by this time) He did this for the rest of the day.

Ralph Landreth was born in Carthage, Missouri on January 17, 1921. He moved with his family to Los Angles when he was a young child. He joined the Navy in San Diego in September 1939. His first assignment was to the USS Arizona. Following the Japanese assault on Pearl Harbor, he was assigned to its sister ship the USS Pennsylvania for a few months. He then served on the 22 person subchaser, the USS SC 670, in the Aleutian Islands for two years. He also served on the aircraft carrier the USS Tarawa in the Far East and was with the 11th Naval District Bomb Disposal when he was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1947.

Ralph lived the rest of his life in Florida. He was a tile setter in Vero Beach, went to college to become a Medical Lab Technologist in Orlando, and worked as a Lab Supervisor in West Palm Beach where he raised his family of two daughters, Karen and Susan. He and wife, Ginny, retired to Rockledge, on Florida’s “Space Coast” in 1992

Ralph and 8 family members attended the big 60th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor in Dec. 2001 with the USS Arizona Reunion Association. During that visit, he recorded his story with the Oral History Program of the National Park Service and the USS Arizona Memorial. He also was interviewed and made a DVD for the Veteran’s History Project (Library of Congress) in September 2007.

The Service for Jim Vlach was held Tuesday, March 18 at Riverside National Cemetery at 1:30 p.m. Jim had full military honors: a bugler, honor guard, and 21 gun salute. Officiating was US Navy Chaplain Chris Crawford, who presented the flag to Karen Gardner, Jim's niece.

A small group of about 25 attended. Karen Gardner and her husband Fred, Gery H. Porter of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, president of chapter 27, Hemet of which Jim was a member. Wylie and Dora Smith, Bob and Jo Plass, Joe, Louise and Peggy Vivirito and Budd and Carol Nease from the USS Arizona Reunion Association. A bus from Air Force Village West bought in some of Jim's friends.


After the funeral service there was a memorial service at Air Force Village West.

I learned a lot of history about the USS Arizona and her crew from Jim.
The rest is gone forever.

Budd Nease

Vincent James (Jim) Vlach, Jr. passed away this morning in Riverside, CA.

A graveside service will be held for Jim on Tuesday, March 18th at 1:30 p.m. at Riverside National Cemetery, staging area #6. Karen Gardner, Jim's niece said in lieu flowers a donation to the USS Arizona Reunion Association would be appreciated. Donations should be sent to our Treasurer, Robert Plass, 4945 Pinnacle St., Riverside, CA 92509, with a notation "In Memory of Jim Vlach". I know our members are spread across the country, but please take a moment on Tuesday to remember Jim.

Budd Nease

Riverside Press-Enterprise VINCENT J. VLACH, JR. Passed away 3/12/2008 at the age of 90. Graveside services will be held on 3/18/2008 at 1:30 p.m. at Riverside National Cemetery in Staging Area #6.

Mr. Vlach was born in St. Michael, Nebraska. He married Jeanne Norton in 1940. She was in Honolulu at the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 12/7/1941. That resulted in Vincent being ashore at the time his ship, USS ARIZONA, was destroyed by Japanese aircraft. His ship suffered 1,177 KIA, the heaviest loss of life on any one ship in the history of the U.S. Navy. All on board at his battle station were killed.

After retirement from the Navy in 1960, he was employed until 1982 by Rockwell International. He was a member of the Sons of American Revolution, Pearl Harbor Survivors, USS ARIZONA Reunion, USS GAMBIER BAY & VC-10 Reunion, National Chief Petty Officers and Navy League.

He was pre deceased by his parents and wife Jeanne. Funeral Arrangements by: HILGENFELD MORTUARY (714) 535-4105

Hazel Green called Budd Nease to inform him that her husband, survivor Clay Douglas Green, Jr., passed away Christmas Eve, 24 December 2007. He lived in Buford, Georgia and had spent 7 years hospitalized in Atlanta, Georgia.

Clay Douglas Green, Jr. reported aboard the USS Arizona on 4 December 1940 from the Naval Training Center at Norfolk, Virginia. He held the rank of S1c on 7 December 1941.

More information to follow.

Charles William Guerin passed away 22 December 2007.

Mr. Guerin served on the USS Arizona and was a survivor of the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. He was assigned to Division IV.

More information to follow.

Budd Nease has returned from the reunion and reports that even though there were less than 40 in attendance, the reunion was a success and enjoyed by all who were there. Budd also reports that his "Memory Albums" were a hit and many spent quite awhile going through them.

You can also enjoy much of what is in Budd's albums throughout this website such as historic photos, historic newspaper articles, and crew history & stories.

Four survivors attended the reunion: Milton Hurst, Glenn Lane, Joseph Langdell, and Clinton Westbrook. Former shipmate Tom Traylor was also in attendance.

Budd's photos from the 2007 Reunion are now online. To view them Click Here. Enjoy!

If you have any photos you would like to share of reunions past or present, please Contact Us.

Ted Langdell announced today the launch of a new website for USS Arizona Reunion Association Members.

Members will be able to sign up for email updates about Association happenings and other important announcements.

Check it out at www.ussarizonareunion.org.

On November 18, 2007 we received an email that simply read, "Just wanted you to know that Herman Leroy Schafer Jr is alive and well". Mr. Schafer will bring our living survivors count to 26. Twenty-five USN and only one USMC. Click here for Story and Photos.

If you have information on a USS Arizona survivor not listed on our Known Living Survivors page, please CONTACT US

The USS Arizona Reunion will hold its annual reunion in Tucson December 5 thru 10. There are 4 survivors scheduled to attend. For more information contact reunion coordinator Ruth Campbell, or CONTACT US.

James Anthony O'Donnell passed away November 18, 2007 in Ohio. Jim served aboard the USS Arizona prior to the Pearl Harbor attack. He served the Reunion Association as President, Master at Arms, Board of Directors and other positions.

James Anthony "Jim" O'Donnell was born on May 24, 1915, in Los Angeles, California to Anthony and Mamie Bloemer O'Donnell. Jim was the oldest of four brothers and one sister. His father was from Ireland and was an accomplished marble setter. Mamie was a restaurant manager and a homemaker. His youngest brother, Anthony "Tony" O'Donnell, is a resident at Summerville, Lakeview Inn. Jim's family moved to Covington, Kentucky, where he went to Business College and worked as a telegraph machine operator for Western Union and Postal Telegraph.

In 1935, Jim joined the U.S. Navy and served for 10 years. He was on aircraft carriers during World War II. He served on the USS Bogue, for which he received a Presidential Unit Citation and a Ribbon Bar with a Bronze Star. He also served aboard the USS Hancock where he received a Navy Unit Commendation ribbon. Jim was also aboard the infamous USS Arizona. His name can be found in several of the historical chronicles published about the men of the USS Arizona. Jim was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1945, having obtained the rank of Chief Fire Controlman.

After his military service, Jim went to work for General Electric as a District Manager. During his distinguished career, he lived in several northeastern states. While in Ohio, Jim owned several boats and ultimately became the Commodore of the Huron Yacht Club at Lake Erie. He entertained many clients aboard his boats. He enjoyed fishing and won several tournaments at Lake Erie and Canada. Jim managed to string 50 consecutive years of fishing trips into the Great White North! On one trip, he caught a Canadian Muskie that weighed 32 pounds and was 51 inches long. On another trip, Jim won an O'Keefe trophy in a local bass tournament for the largest smallmouth bass.

Jim retired from General Electric after 32 years of service. He moved to Naples, Florida, and continued fishing and staying active by participating in many organizations including the Shamrock Club, International Blue Gavel, Coast Guard, U.S. Power Squadron, American Legion, Elks, Moose, a member of the Board of Directors of the USS Arizona Reunion Association, the Irish American Club, Knights of Columbus and the Kentucky Colonels.

Jim was extremely proud of his Irish heritage and was always quick to show his true "green" spirit. On March 17, 1967, the Cleveland, Ohio, St. Patrick's Day Parade was cancelled due to cold weather. Jim would not be dissuaded. He marshaled together a group of fellow, hearty Irish, got an American flag and an accordian player, and started their own processional down Superior Avenue. His efforts made the front page of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Jim had been a resident of the Summerville Inn at Lakeview since 1999.

We are pleased to announce the grand opening of our new website bookstore. We have partnered with Amazon.com to bring you a wonderful and extensive selection of USS Arizona & Pearl Harbor books, videos and memorabilia.

All books and videos have been hand-picked by us to include only those of historical significance and accuracy. Many of the videos we have selected include first hand survivor accounts by many of our association members.

We hope you will take a moment to browse the bookstore. This is a non-profit family-owned and operated website and we face ever-increasing costs associated with running a website of this magnitude.

Purchases you make from the bookstore will help support this website. For every purchase you make we receive a small percentage and through your purchase, you will be helping this website continue to bring you the best and most accurate information on the USS Arizona.

Click here to visit our new website bookstore

Thank you for your continued support.

John Harry McCarron, 88, of San Diego died Friday, June 22, 2007. He was born in Tewksbury, Mass., and was retired from the Navy. He was a veteran of World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Survivors include his daughter, Eileen Sampson; son, David McCarron; sisters, Olive Condon, Ruth Clark and Phyllis Henderson; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

John H. McCarron joined the Naval Reserve Unit in Lynn, Mass. in 1936. He enlisted full time in September 1937. He received recruit training Company 9 RTC Newport, Rhode Island. John was assigned to the USS ARIZONA after transit Panama Canal in USS Henderson.

7 December 1941 was a gunners mate second class as gun captain 5"/25 AA MS#7. John said his guardian angel insured his survival that day. Wounds received were minor in nature.

John married his high school sweetheart while on leave in October 1941.

He received an Honorable Discharge after 32 years Navy and 1 1/2 years Navy Reserve and loved every instant of it!

View John McCarron's Story

Sadly, there are now only 25 known living survivors.