Harry Chandler, Navy medic who survived Pearl Harbor, dies at 103

Harry Chandler, a Navy medic who helped pull injured sailors from the oily waters of Pearl Harbor after the 1941 Japanese assault on the naval base, has died. He was 103.

Chandler died Monday at a senior dwelling middle in Tequesta, Florida, in response to Ron Mahaffee, the husband of his granddaughter Kelli Fahey. Chandler had congestive coronary heart failure, however Mahaffee stated medical doctors and nurses famous his superior age when giving a reason behind loss of life.

The third Pearl Harbor survivor to die up to now few weeks, Chandler was a hospital corpsman third class on Dec. 7, 1941, when waves of Japanese fighter planes dropped bombs and fired machine weapons on battleships within the harbor and plunged the U.S. into World Battle II.

He advised The Related Press in 2023 that he noticed the planes method as he was elevating the flag that morning at a cellular hospital in Aiea Heights, which is within the hills overlooking the bottom.

“I assumed they have been planes coming in from the states till I noticed the bombs dropping,” Chandler stated. His first intuition was to take cowl and “get the hell out of right here.”

“I used to be afraid that they’d begin strafing,” he stated.

His unit rode vehicles all the way down to attend the injured. He stated in a Pacific Historic Parks oral historical past interview that he boarded a ship to assist pluck wounded sailors from the water.

The harbor was coated in oil from exploding ships, so Chandler washed the sailors off after lifting them out. He stated he was too centered on his work to be afraid.

“It obtained so busy you weren’t scared. Weren’t scared in any respect. We have been busy. It was after you bought scared,” Chandler stated.

He realized later that he may have been killed, “However you didn’t take into consideration that whilst you have been busy caring for folks.”

The assault killed greater than 2,300 U.S. servicemen. Almost half, or 1,177, have been sailors and Marines on board the united statesArizona, which sank 9 minutes after it was bombed.

Chandler’s recollections got here flowing again when he visited Pearl Harbor for a 2023 ceremony commemorating the 82nd anniversary of the bombing.

“I look on the market, and I can nonetheless see what’s happening. I can nonetheless see what was occurring,” Chandler advised The Related Press.

Requested what he needed Individuals to learn about Pearl Harbor, he stated: “Be ready.”

“We must always have identified that was going to occur. The intelligence must be higher,” he stated.

After the warfare Chandler labored as a painter and wallpaper hanger and acquired an upholstery enterprise along with his brother. He additionally joined the Navy reserves, retiring as a senior chief in 1981.

Chandler was born in Holyoke, Massachusetts, and lived for many of his grownup life in close by South Hadley, Mahaffee stated. In latest a long time he break up his time between Massachusetts and Florida.

An avid golfer, he shot 5 hole-in-ones throughout his lifetime, his grandson-in-law added.

Chandler had one organic daughter and adopted two daughters from his second marriage, to Anna Chandler, who died in 2004. He’s survived by two daughters, 9 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren.

Navy historian J. Michael Wenger has estimated that there have been some 87,000 army personnel on the island of Oahu the day of the assault.

Bob Fernandez, who served on the united statesCurtiss, died Dec. 11 at age 100, and Warren Upton, 105, who served on the united statesUtah, died on Christmas Day.