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Harry Chandler, Pearl Harbor Survivor and Navy Medic, Dies at 103 in Tequesta, Florida

Jan 1, 2025, 09:38 AM

Harry Chandler, a Navy medic who survived the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, has died at the age of 103 from congestive heart failure at a senior living center in Tequesta, Florida. As a hospital corpsman 3rd class during the attack, Chandler was involved in pulling injured sailors from the oily waters of the harbor, where he worked tirelessly to treat the wounded amidst the chaos. He was raising the flag at a mobile hospital in Aiea Heights when he first saw the Japanese planes approaching. The attack, which killed more than 2,300 U.S. servicemen, including 1,177 on the USS Arizona, left a lasting impact on Chandler, who revisited Pearl Harbor for its 82nd anniversary in 2023. Chandler, born in Holyoke, Massachusetts, and later lived in South Hadley, urged Americans to 'be prepared' and emphasized the need for better intelligence. An avid golfer, he achieved five hole-in-ones during his lifetime. With his death, only 15 survivors remain from the estimated 87,000 military personnel present on Oahu during the attack. Chandler is survived by two daughters, nine grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren.