Raymond Haerry rejoins shipmates (updated with video)
Last year, we wrote about Raymond Haerry, one of the few living survivors of the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor on that fateful day that the mighty battleship was sunk by Japanese planes. His final wish was to rejoin his shipmates on the Arizona upon his passing. According to the Associated Press, that wish came true this week;
Haerry’s granddaughter, Jessica Marino, traveled from New Jersey to Hawaii with her family for Saturday’s ceremony. She handed his urn to divers, who placed it within the ship’s sunken hull. Hundreds of sailors and Marines are entombed there.
“That was the point at which I kind of lost it,” Marino said. “It was really sad, but also really sweet to see. It was amazing.”
Only USS Arizona survivors can be interred on the ship. Haerry served for 25 years in the Navy, retiring as a master chief.
He’s the 42nd survivor to rejoin his shipmates, according to the National Park Service.
[…]
“That brotherhood doesn’t go away and as he got closer to the end of life, it resonated with him,” Marino said. “He didn’t want to see the site or relive that disaster, but he wanted to relive that camaraderie.”
Thanks to Chief Tango and Chip for the links.
Here’s a video from ABC News;
Category: We Remember
RIP
May you finally rest in peace as you wished.
Fair Winds and Following Seas Master Chief.
All ahead full. Straight on ’til morning. Bon voyage, Master Chief.
Rest In Peace with your shipmates, Master Chief. Arizona was a good ship. She’ll take care of you now.
I visited the Memorial with my parents when I was 17, and I remember the NPS Rangers saying that, according to the local Hawaiian shamans, the fuel we saw still leaking from Arizona’s tanks is the tears the ship cries for her crew. They also said that multiple tree-hugger groups have sued and lobbied to have the remaining fuel removed from the wreck, which would destroy the wreck in the process, only to be told that anyone who tries will have to contend with the entire Pacific Fleet (Marines included) and a lot of large and pissed-off Hawaiians.
In any case, I like to think that when God’s trumpet sounds on Judgement Day, USS Arizona will rise from the mud, looking good as new in her peacetime paint, and sail her boys straight through Heaven’s gates.
And the tears will stop once the last crewmember is interred on the ship like the Master Chief. I can’t think of a better place to rest in eternal peace.
God rest you well Master Chief.
No Son ,that is not Thunder. That is the Arizona teaching Satan “The Why’s and Wherefores” of Fucking with the Pearly Gates.
Repeat Full Battery
Hand Salute Master Chief
And Rear Admiral Kidd will get his Annapolis class ring back and promptly show it to Satan, on his middle finger.
RIP Master Chief. Fair winds.
Dang, it suddenly got dusty in here.
Rest in Peace, Master Chief.
Rest in Peace, Master Chief.
Been thinking about attempting a build of Arizona in her December 6 condition in 1/350 scale as a future firehouse soft-time project. Currently working on the heavy cruiser San Francisco (1942 fit, before they cut off her bridge wings), next up will be the Wickes-class destroyer USS Walker.
Figure I’d end up building two kits for the project, as she should be shown with Vestal tied up alongside. Not sure my skills match my ambitions, but it’s something to aspire to, I guess.
Fair winds and following seas Master Chief
I was traveling for work this week and am in Dayton OH. Yesterday morning I came down stairs at the hotel and had my memory jogged. 18 April marked the 75th anniversary of the Doolittle Raid. The Doolittle Raiders organization was staying in my hotel. These are family members as the sole surviving Raider Lt Col Richard Cole, Doolittles’s co-pilot is 101 years old and was present.
38 years ago the Raider Reunion was held in Charleston SC and I was privileged to meet Gen Doolittle and 30 other Raiders.
Master Chief Haerry, Lt Col Cole are able represetatives of the Greatest Generation.
I was at the Presidio of Monterey in 1987 when they had the 45th anniversary memorial – both General Doolittle and Brigadier General James Stewart were in attendance. Impressive ceremony – frigates firing a salute in Monterey Bay, B-17s and B-25s flying overhead in salute along with then state of the art USAF aircraft, and enough other brass to dazzle this young E-4. Never realized how short General Doolittle was, especially standing next to Jimmy Stewart
.
“Never realized how short General Doolittle was…”
Carrying those huge brass balls around for so long must have compressed his vertebrae.
Crisp salute.
Your Shipmates welcome you home, Master Chief.
I don’t know if it’s just me. Probably not (I hope not).
There’s something about those WW2-Korea Fleet Sailors. You can just *tell*.
FW&FS Master Chief.
He just looks like an old salt, at least to me. Very solemn yet uplifting. Fair winds and following seas, Master Chief.