Lou Conter, the last survivor from the USS Arizona battleship that was attacked during the bombing of Pearl Harbor, has passed away at the age of 102 at his home in Grass Valley, California. Conter was on duty on the Arizona when the surprise Japanese attack occurred on December 7, 1941. The battleship exploded in flames, smoke, and pandemonium, with Conter being among the fortunate few hundred men to escape the sinking ship. He recounted the harrowing experience in his autobiography, "The Lou Conter Story," where he described the chaos and devastation of the attack.

After surviving the Pearl Harbor attack, Conter went on to flight school and flew combat missions in the Pacific during World War II. He later flew missions during the Korean War and served as an intelligence officer for a Navy aircraft carrier group. In the late 1950s, he helped establish the Navy's first SERE program to train airmen on survival tactics if they were shot down in the jungle and captured.

Despite his heroic actions and service, Conter always insisted that the real heroes were the 2,403 men who lost their lives in the Pearl Harbor attack. He was a regular attendee at annual remembrance ceremonies in Pearl Harbor, paying his respects to those who perished. With Conter's passing, there are now only 19 known survivors of the Pearl Harbor attack still living.

Lou Conter's legacy as a survivor of one of the most infamous events in American history will continue to be remembered and honored by those who knew him and those who learn about his bravery and sacrifice. His dedication to honoring the memory of his fallen comrades serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by so many during World War II.