Every Pearl Harbor fallen has a story - 2,341 of them
- Don Milne
- Nov 28, 2021
- 7 min read
Updated: Oct 25, 2022
The 2,341 Americans in military service, who died due to the December 7, 1941 Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, have been remembered for 80 years. However, most people can only remembered them by name.
It was not possible to find a story for each and everyone of them that could be easily accessed from one location.
Until now.
Nearly 150 volunteers from more than three dozen states, as well as France and England, have worked on the database, enhanced photos (thank you MyHeritage!) and wrote & edited their stories now saved permanently on Together We Served and Fold3. As you scroll below, passing like a parade, you can see a brief bio of a fallen flag bearer representing his state, a link to his full story, and a link to where you can find the other stories of the fallen from that state.
Note: Flags reflect version in use in 1945.
Alabama
NAS Kaneohe Bay
His actions to repel the attach without regard to life resulted in a citation
Destroyer escort named in his honor
Find the stories of other Alabama fallen here
Arizona
USS Arizona
Always wanted to join the Navy
Played the violin
Find the stories of other Arizona fallen here
Arkansas
Naval Air Station, Kaneohe Bay
Saved a man from drowning in April 1941
A destroyer escort was named for him
Find the stories of the other Arkansas fallen here
California
251st Coast Artillery
One of the first three servicemen killed at Pearl Harbor when his rented Piper Cub was shot down by approaching Japanese planes
Find the stories of the other California fallen here
Colorado
USS Arizona
Talked father into letting him drop out of high school and join navy at age 17
Park in Loveland, Colorado named for him
Find the stories of the other Colorado fallen here
Connecticut
USS Enterprise
Naval Academy graduate
Shot down and parachuted into Pearl Harbor during the attack
Swam to Ford Island but died of wounds
Find the stories of the other Connecticut fallen here
Delaware
USS Shaw
Former Boy Scout and National Guardsman
First Delawarean to die in the line of duty in World War II
District of Columbia
USS Arizona
Captain of high school rifle team
Studied electrical engineering in college
Destroyer escort named in his honor
Find the stories of the other DC fallen here
Florida
USS Arizona
Florida police officer when called to active duty
Correctly predicted war would start within one week
Find the stories of the other Florida fallen here
Georgia
Wheeler Field
Aviation Mechanic
Red Cross chapter named in his honor
Find the stories of the other Georgia fallen here
Idaho
USS Arizona
Both parents died within six months when he was 5 years old
Find the stories of the other Idaho fallen here
Illinois
USS Arizona
Joined Navy at age 16
Ship dentist
Destroyer escort named in his honor
Find the stories of the other Illinois fallen here
Indiana
USS Oklahoma
Captain of high school basketball team
Remains not identified until 2019 and laid to rest in September2021
Find the stories of the other Indiana fallen here
Iowa
USS Arizona
When his neighbors, the Sullivans, learned of Ball's death, the five brothers joined the navy. They all perished on the USS Juneau in November 1942.
Find the stories of the other Iowa fallen here
Kansas
USS Tracy
Had 15 brothers and sister
Left ship to help defend USS Pennsylvania
Find the stories of the other Kansas fallen here
Kentucky
USS Arizona
Bandmaster of USS Arizona Band
Was on the fantail ready to play Colors when the Pearl Harbor attack began
All band members ran down to their battle stations in the ammunition holds
Find the stories of other Kentucky fallen here
Lousiana
USS Utah
Father died when he was 3
Naval Academy grad
Destroyer escort named in his honor
Find the stories of the other Louisiana fallen here
Maine
USS Arizona
Naval Academy grad
In charge of ship navigation
Find the stories of the other Maine fallen here
Maryland
14th Fighter Group
Joined army in 1932 and reenlisted three times
American Legion Post named for him
Find the stories of the other Maryland here
Massachusetts
USS West Virginia
Was waiting for the launch to take him to church when the Pearl Harbor attack began
A VFW post and annual 4th of July race are named in his honor
Find the stories of other Massachusetts fallen here
Michigan
USS Oklahoma
Dropped out of high school to join the Navy
Remains recently identified and will be buried at home on December 7, 2021
Find the stories of the other Michigan fallen here
Minnesota
USS West Virginia
Parents from Germany and Norway
13 years in Navy
Father of three sons including twins
Find the stories of the other Minnesota fallen here
Mississippi
USS Arizona
Ship pay clerk
Turned down invite to stay on shore the night before the attack
Find the stories of the other Mississippi fallen here
Missouri
USS Chew
Joined Navy at age 17
Killed while helping to move wounded sailors
Find the stories of the other Missouri fallen here
Montana
Marine Utility Squadron 252
Earned Bronze Star while defending Ewa Marine Corps Air Station
Find the stories of the other Montana fallen here
Nebraska
11th Bombardment Group
Earned Silver Star defending Hickam Field
Brother was killed by kamikaze in 1945
Find the stories of the other Nebraska fallen here
Nevada
USS Arizona
Left job as grocery clerk to join Navy
Trained in radio work and signaling
Find the stories of the other Nevada fallen here
New Hampshire
USS Arizona
High school valedictorian and US Naval Academy graduate
Destroyer escort and American Legion Post named in his honor
Find the stories of the other New Hampshire fallen here
New Jersey
USS Oklahoma
Spent his final moments helping 15 shipmates escape to safety.
A destroyer escort was named in his honor.
Find the stories of the other New Jersey fallen here
New Mexico
USS Arizona
Worked as a laundry deliveryman
Joined Navy with younger brother, but assigned to different ships
Find the stories of the New Mexico fallen here
New York
15th Pursuit Group
Was one of the few fighter pilots to get into the air.
Credited with shooting down a Japanese Zero.
Find the stories of the other New York fallen here
North Carolina
USS Curtiss
Shot down one of the first Japanese planes
Find the stories of the other North Carolina here
North Dakota
USS Arizona
Grandparents from Iceland
Joined Navy with friend who nearly married his sister
Find the stories of the other North Dakota fallen here
Ohio
USS Nevada
AA gun captain
Most junior sailor on ship recognized for distinguished conduct during attack
Destroyer escort named in his honor
Find the stories of the other Ohio fallen here
Oklahoma
USS Arizona
Mother died when he was one year old
Join Navy at age 17
Find the stories of the other Oklahoma fallen here
Oregon
USS Nevada
Brother Gene survived attack on same ship and was with Harvey at hospital
Barely 18 years old
Find the stories of the other Oregon fallen here
Pennsylvania
USS Arizona
An accomplished swimmer who hoped to attend the 1940 Olympics which were cancelled
Find the stories of the other Pennsylvania fallen here
Rhode Island
VP-11, Kaneohe Bay NAS
Dropped out of high school and joined Navy to help support family
5 brothers served in the military
One brother served on a destroyer escort named in his honor
Find the stories of the Rhode Island fallen here
South Carolina
USS Arizona
Joined the Navy to help support younger siblings
Stationed in engine room
Find the stories of the other South Carolina fallen here
South Dakota
USS Nevada
Parents were born in Germany
Number 16 of 20 brothers and sisters
Recovering from appendicitis operations at the time of the attack
Find the stories of the other South Dakota fallen here
Tennessee
USS Oklahoma
Worked for Civilian Conservation Corp before joining Navy
Remains identified in 2018 and buried in Smartt, Tennessee in October 2020.
Find the stories of the other Tennessee fallen here
Texas
USS Arizona
Joined Navy with cousin and both were assigned to Arizona and both perished
Brother William was in Army in Hawaii, survived that attack, but was killed in Europe in 1945
Brother Ward was a B-24 crewman and died in a crash in North Africa in 1943
Find the stories of the other Texas fallen here
Utah
USS Arizona
Mother died when he was one year old
Graduated from US Naval Academy
Destroyer escort and American Legion Post named in his honor.
Find the stories of the other Utah fallen here
Vermont
USS Arizona
Joined Navy with his brother against his mother's wishes
Sent ship's Thanksgiving dinner menu home to his parents
Find the stories of the other Vermont fallen here
Virginia
USS Arizona
Mess Attendant with more than six years in the Navy
Assigned to ship one week before Pearl Harbor attack
Find the stories of the other Virginia fallen here
Washington
USS Utah
Parents were from Germany
Joined Navy in 1919
Four sons
Find the stories of the other Washington fallen here
West Virginia
USS West Virginia
Father died when he was one year old
William's son turn 5 the day after the Pearl Harbor attack
Find the stories of the other West Virginia fallen here
Wisconsin
USS Oklahoma
Joined the Navy on the same day as his twin brother
His twin there to see him buried when his remains were identified 60 years later
Find the stories of the other Wisconsin fallen here
Wyoming
USS Vestal
One of seven men lost on this ship
66 year old Spanish American War veteran father died one day later
Find the stories of the other Wyoming fallen here
US Territories
Find the stories of the other fallen from: Guam, Philippines
Thanks to Ancestry.com and its subsidiaries Newspapers.com and Fold3.com for providing free research access to many of our writers. Thanks to MyHeritage.com for providing significant financial support for this project and for their photo enhancing technology. Thanks to Bobbie Jo Carter and the USS Arizona Mall Memorial for providing many of stories of the USS Arizona fallen.
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