Uss Arizona How Many Survivors

Okay, so you want to talk about the USS Arizona, huh? And specifically, you’re wondering: how many survivors? I get it. It’s one of those gut-punch questions that feels impossible to ask. But you’re not alone. Everyone who visits that memorial in Pearl Harbor has the same thought.

Let’s get the big, sad number out of the way first. When the Arizona sank on December 7, 1941, she took 1,177 crewmen with her. That’s a lot of names on a wall. But here’s the twist—and the part that feels like a wild punchline from history—there were survivors. Wait, what? How?

Well, the ship didn’t go down in a single, clean swoop. It was a catastrophic explosion, sure, but not everyone was aboard. Some men were on shore leave. Some were on other ships. And some, by sheer dumb luck, were in the right spot at the wrong time.

So, the official count? 334 members of the Arizona’s crew survived. That’s it. Just 334 out of roughly 1,511. Crazy, right? That’s like a 22% survival rate. Honestly, your odds were better playing dodgeball with a blindfold on.

But here’s where it gets weird and kind of beautiful. Those 334 survivors didn’t just disappear. They became a club. Not a fancy club—no secret handshakes or ridiculous dues. Just a bond forged in fire and saltwater.

The “Last Man” Club

For decades, the survivors had a tradition. They’d hold reunions at the memorial. And they’d always save an empty chair. That chair was for the next man to fall. It’s morbid, sure, but it’s also the most human thing I’ve ever heard. They were toasting each other, even the ones who didn’t make it.

And the numbers? They dwindled, of course. Time is a thief, and it doesn’t care about heroism. By the 1990s, you could count the survivors on two hands, maybe one. By the 2000s, they were down to a handful of real old-timers—men who had to use walkers but still wore their hats with pride.

Ken Potts, one of last 2 USS Arizona survivors, dies at 102 | Northwest

Then, in 2019, the last living survivor of the USS Arizona passed away. His name was Lou Conter. He was 98. And he was a firefighter on the ship during the attack. Imagine that—a guy who fought flames while being bombed, and he lived to be almost 100. That’s either the universe being kind or incredibly sarcastic.

What About the Others?

You might be thinking, “Okay, but were there more survivors who just didn’t talk about it?” And the answer is yes—sort of. Some crewmen were transferred off the ship just days before the attack. Others were on sick leave. One guy literally overslept and missed his duty shift. Best. Hangover. Ever.

But officially, the number is 334. Those men were listed on the ship’s company roster and lived to tell the tale. Or, in many cases, didn’t tell the tale. They just went home, had kids, and never spoke of the oil slick that still leaks from the wreckage today.

Speaking of which—did you know the Arizona still leaks oil? It’s true. Tourists call it “black tears.” Some survivors asked for their ashes to be interred on the ship after they died. So now, a few of those 334 are actually back inside the hull. They came home, sort of. It’s poetic, if you don’t think about how creepy it is.

The Numbers Game

Let’s do some math, but keep it fun, I promise. If you were on the Arizona that morning, you had about a 1 in 5 chance of surviving. That’s worse odds than playing Russian roulette with a semi-automatic pistol. But those 334 men? They beat the house. They walked—or swam—away.

How Many Men Died On The Uss Arizona | Detroit Chinatown

And here’s a weird detail: nearly half of the fatalities were from the ship’s forward magazine explosion. That blast killed over 1,000 men instantly. The survivors were mostly in the stern, or climbing out of portholes. One guy, Donald Stratton, crawled across a rope of fire to escape. He lived to be 97. Seriously, these guys were made of cactus and concrete.

Why Do We Still Ask This?

We ask “how many survivors?” because it gives us a handle on the horror. A number we can hold. 334 is way too many, but also not nearly enough. It’s a math problem with a broken heart.

But here’s the thing I love: those survivors didn’t want to be famous. They just wanted to eat breakfast, complain about the weather, and maybe tell a few stories to their grandkids. They were ordinary men who did something extraordinary—they survived the most extraordinary tragedy.

So, next time you’re at Pearl Harbor, look at the oil slick. Touch the wall of names. And then remember: 334 men did walk away. They just walked away into a life that would never be the same. And that’s both the saddest and the bravest thing I can think of.

And hey—if you ever meet a really old guy who winks when you mention the Arizona, buy him a coffee. You’re probably talking to one of the 334. Well, statistically, you’re not. But wouldn’t that be the best chat of your life?