USS Arizona Survivor

Lauren Bruner is a Navy Veteran and USS Arizona survivor. At age 21, Bruner was onboard the Battleship Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7th, 1941. The Purple Heart recipient is one of a handful of USS Arizona survivors who are still alive to tell the story of that day. We sit down with Mr. Bruner during a recent visit to Tucson as the University of Arizona honors World War II veterans, marking the 75th Anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Producer: Mitchell Riley

[@mrz80]

His battle station was *on* the foremast, directly above the magazine that exploded dooming the ship. It's nothing short of a flat out miracle he survived!

[@brianna5381]

My great grandpa survived peril harbor ON THE BB 39 (uss arizona) he saw the bomb and when it exploded and lost his hearing and needs hearing aids to hear

[@brianna5381]

I also live in Arizona

[@cordovanyt9639]

ARIZONA FAN . My relative is Captain Franklin Van Valkenburgh.

[@Alpha_4608]

My grandfather was a test pilot during World War 2 and I’m sure he helped many pilots soar to victory during the war

[@AC-dw9ur]

He is a living miracle for all people who died and fought for us (RIP)

[@kkssd92]

He passed away on September month of 2019. RIP

[@randalljames3080]

Was hoping I could contact him. Doing a piece on a reported survivor. Clark Simmons from West Virginia. Deceased.(black man).

[@gerald4133]

🌹 r.i.p. sir.

[@ussarizonabb-3993]

😢 my last survivor died 🌹🌹

[@gerald4133]

@@ussarizonabb-3993 may he rest in peace. I've been to the USS Arizona Memorial & seen the names. Words can't express the feeling or emotions once you've been there. 🌹🌹🌹🌹

[@ussarizonabb-3993]

@gerald 413 iv always wanted to go there but never got the chance because of covid and plane trips to Hawaii are to expensive

[@kylegallant3423]

RIP Mr Bruner. You are a true inspiration and gentlemen for all to admire!!!!!

[@short_clips_motivation]

Amen

[@TexasMan77]

Very few USS Arizona survivors left. RIP sir, and Billy Mann. You’re the greatest generation. 🇺🇸

[@gregoryjohnson9733]

He was the last.

[@robertglennienz]

I am a New Zealander. I stood in the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial as an 11 year old in 1992. If I go back, I'd love to leave a flower of respect. Thank you.

[@missybishop4996]

I can't stop crying... These men are Amazing

[@YTjndallas]

My Uncle was Earnest Shawn. He was a survivor of the USS Arizona on that day. He went on…. He earned 5 Battle Stars and ended his Naval career as an instructor against submarine warfare.

[@firemedic5100]

I never get tired of listening to these man that were there and did what they had to do to survive. I had a friend whose dad survived the USS California at Pearl Harbor, stayed in the navy, and then one of the 319 survivors of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis in 1945. These men are true heroes, and should never be forgotten.

[@jambocoo]

God bless you sir, and all our service men and women who protect our country.

[@natalierozean5989]

He saw so much. He survived and continued to serve. What an amazing thing that he never broke or became cold inside. He came out of it all with his heart and compassion still intact. What a beautiful man.

[@cyndianderson7056]

I love seeing these young people giving him the respect he deserves.

[@rikijett310]

Thank you endlessly for your service Sir and may God bless you always!!!! ✝️🇺🇸✝️

[@JayStephens8]

R.I.P. Mr. Bruner we will never forget what you and all of those brave men did for this country 🇺🇸

[@danw6014]

There is nothing more to say but thank you for the sacrifice you made for America. There are many today that don't understand that, but there are many who do and appreciate what you did and what you lost so we could be free. My grandfather served on the Arizona in the 30s. I don't know what his rank or job was. In his free time he had made a belt buckle in the machine shop on the Arizona. My dad wore it for years and now I have it. It is a reminder to me of sacrifice.

[@gerald4133]

Words can't explain how grateful for your service & dedication we are. 🇺🇸

[@josephrapoza6453]

He was place back in the Arizona upon his death in an incredible ceremony.

[@oftenwrong.]

To these veterans who paid with the price of their own lives. Be thanked for their service! Things like this make me proud to call myself an American!!!

[@jonfox5366]

I bought a model ship too add to my collection. And I saw USS Arizona. I picked her because of her crew that never came home. I have tears in my eyes.

[@saberboi1526]

Me too dude, i have always wanted one and I finally got it and every model builder should have such a ship in their collection.

[@TylerJohnson-jp2sh]

Class act. Thank you for my freedom.

[@YTjndallas]

My Uncle was one of the 326(?) survivors of the USS Arizona. Earnest M. Shawn.

[@bigmak9059]

That’s unreal to think about. Had he not survived, your father could have completely changed courses in life and you wouldn’t be alive.

[@rossiyskayapolitsiya9303]

He must get a lot of respect

[@short_clips_motivation]

May he Rest In Peace with his fellow crew mates on her.

[@rongendron8705]

My great uncle, Navy Chief, 37 year old, Edward Gaudet, was on the USS Tennessee, docked alongside the USS Arizona on Dec. 7th, 1941! He was at 7:00 a.m. mass on Ford Island, when the attack started at 7:55 a.m. When he returned to his ship, it was on fire from the Arizona's wreckage! He had previously served on the Arizona in the 1930's & retired in 1953 with 30 Yrs. service! He was promoted to Lieutenant j.g. during WWII! I've been to Pearl Harbor, three times, i.e. 1979,1991 & 2003 & met 'survivors' who worked there & it never fails to enthrall me!

[@kenrosen811]

God Bless your great uncle!

[@amoringful]

Thank you for your service 💜

[@vdrivevideo]

Outstanding video! Thank you Lauren Bruner!

[@robjontay5052]

True hero. For these young future leaders it must've been like a history book opened up and here pops out a survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

[@redtomcat1725]

thank you Lauren Bruner

[@waydel4]

RIP Lauren you are now back serving on your beloved ship.

[@thomassalois3508]

It's so sad that they're all gone now

[@DOOBISOFT]

I stumbled upon this because I was rewatching the Pearl Harbor Movie 2001, because in school that’s what our teacher showed us!(I was born & raised in Maui so that’s so crazy to think about) Thank you MR.Bruner for your service & Rest in Peace my grandparents lived/live in Maui & children when this happened it’s crazy to think about

[@biancahotca3244]

Awe that's so sweet!!

[@mdc9863]

I wish I could talk to him.

[@3bearStrong]

My gpa James P Tracy was there. He died in 2002 though. Im so proud of his service.

[@jonathankysar8786]

I am considering joining the Navy. I love ships and the ocean.

[@thecoolcarhd4402]

Well that might be you one day.

[@lori8095]

if you join the navy I will say i salute you for choosing this while knowing very well that you could die and that's what I call bravery

[@jerril1392]

God bless you Sir.

[@fructosecornsyrup5759]

My grandpa was stationed on the USS Arizona as a gunner. He was lucky he had shore duty when the Japanese attacked. He fought in WW2 and rose to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer. Married my grandmother during his service. She was a nurse on his ship.

[@rossiyskayapolitsiya9303]

FOR YOU MY MAN I SALUTE YOU

[@weewoo6722]

May he rest with his fallen comrades in pearl harbor.

[@brianjones7660]

The most haunting photo from Arizona memorabilia has to be the group shot of the Arizona's brass band at the Bloch Arena where they had won a battle of the bands just the night before. Then went back to the ship .......

[@tedgamma8650]

Glad we still have you

[@hoosiergymdaddy6615]

2 rude people disliked

[@braydenadams2024]

Who ever disliked what if you where the one on the ship

[@captainkapalot9644]

Must of been a great time to be a sailor before pearl harbor

[@NotLRK]

I remember a 90 something year old man at pearl harbor he was veteran and he was in ww2 I forgot what his name was

[@lmcchannel1611]

Hello, my name is Logan Shifflet. I am writing a book on the stories of pearl harbor and I was wondering if I can get permission to use these stories for my book. If so you will be cited at the end of the book!!! Thanks, Logan

[@derekmurray1462]

Respect

[@rwitt3vloggs]

Thank’s for our freedom🥺💯

[@TheNextGoogification]

You don't find too many Heroes that survived. I think a lot of the testimony from people that were at battles, were hiding in the background - kind of like the story about how big the fish was that they caught, it gets exaggerated every time they tell the story

[@Jcbrz]

Man man what. A tragedy of USS Arizona

[@erinfuller6633]

He is a very brave man

[@djgames3713]

i know him my dad went to pearl harbour and walked around and got info from this guy and my dad was a crew member of the arizona except he messed up the thing that i don't know

[@patrickazzarella6729]

I wonder what he thought seeing the explosion footage. I wonder if it made him feel lucky to survive

[@gregoryjohnson9733]

RIP Sir.

[@Edvard-Vitcovski]

Why am I so partial to your past? I'm being hooked on events in Pearl Harbor. I live in Russia, and I should not care... But I'm saddened by every sound in the word "pearl harbor."

[@josephrapoza6453]

Words you don't want to hear .... This is not a drill....

[@breakingmad2645]

0:33 For a split second I thought that was Tom Hanks back in the day with that haircut

[@natalierozean5989]

Hmm... the soldier in the second row or back row against the window?

[@robertcarlton6449]

you are the lowest asshole imaginable. you look at haircuts instead of respecting the greatest generation. scumbag HasbroMan, if you have children I'd love to tell them about you smartass comments

[@brandondowdy4220]

@@robertcarlton6449 dude chill it’s not really a dumb ass comment

[@TheChiefEng]

It will forever be a mystery what the Japanese actually thought they could achieve long term, even if they had managed to destroy Pearl and all ships completely. Japan was never in a position to endanger the American mainland so American industry would eventually have outproduced Japan in any way possible with the same end result. It can be argued that if USA had actually joined UK in the war in Europe, USA would have been put in a state of war much earlier which could have prevented Pearl Harbor. Most of the Americans, who died on that day December 7th 1941 really never got a chance to fight back. These people were possibly members of the greatest generation in American history.

[@SD-yb5fx]

Why not make sure that you are truly saved by Jesus Christ and practice this way. Remorsefully confess with your heart your sins to Jesus Christ who is God and tell Him that you right now are repenting of your sins and you want to be born again of the Spirit from above. Tell Jesus that you are remorsefully sorry for breaking His commandments and that you are begging for forgiveness from Him. Allow His blood from the cross to wash away your sins. After this is done with your heart successfully the Holy Spirit will come to live within you and He will rebuild you from the inside out. Look for signs that you are saved. Things like spreading the good news from Jesus, getting other people saved, a craving for the word of God, reading the Bible, etc… These things are known as a calling and fruit bearing. If you're not bearing fruit then keep doing it. Sometimes it takes time to get saved. Read Matthew chapter 13 from the King James Bible. God bless!!!!

[@wolfy4734]

Billie.

[@fnue1x]

This is my teachers step dad deadass no lie on god

[@73THUNDERDOME73]

Like fr fr deadass on god no cap? Shit bruh 420 blaze dude.. 😂

[@Orf]

4:58

[@ellec5584]

His story was one of the ones depicted in the Pearl Harbor scene in the movie Midway.

[@chaitea3659]

5:59 hey, its our good friend the U.S.S neosho!

[@Lee69]

Video so undrerrated!

[@instinct4388]

"History right there infront of you"Passive Aggressive much?

[@hoosiergymdaddy6615]

2 rude people disliked