WW2 Vet Survives Shark Attack, USS Arizona Explosion | Memoirs Of WWII #45

Louis Conter is one of only two living survivors of the USS Arizona, sunken during the Japanese attack of Pearl Harbor. Lou would go on to fly two hundred combat missions in the South Pacific. Hear him tell his story.
Memoirs of WWII Website: bit.ly/2w60kGM
Patreon: bit.ly/2HIebIN
Instagram: bit.ly/2FBGBhv
Facebook: bit.ly/2w5Lhgf
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Written and Directed by Joshua Scott
Filmed by Heather Scott
Edited by Joshua Scott
Post Audio by Lane Tarr
Photo Enhancement and Colorization by Hudson Louie
Original Illustrations by Nicky Russo
Check out more of Nicky Russo’s artwork and some interesting history at his KZbin channel / @renaissancerebel3094
Archive Footage Sources:
www.archives.gov/
Archive Photograph Sources:
Warren and Annette Hull
Naval History and Heritage Command
National Archives and Records Administration
U.S. Navy
Victor-ny
Primary Musical Score Source:
artlist.io/
Artlist Songs and Composers:
“Breathe” by Matt Stewart-Evans
“No One Is Out Here” by Yehezkel Raz
“Wonder” by Tristan Barton
“Where It Begins It Ends” by Be Still the Earth
“Anchors Aweigh” composed by Charles A. Zimmerman and Alfred Hart Miles; performed by The High Hatters. Acquired from www.archive.org

[@ItsUhPigeon]

Lou Conter, the last surviving member of the USS Arizona, passed away yesterday (April 1st, 2024) Thank you for your service Mr. Conter Gone but NEVER forgotten are all who served us 🇺🇸

[@dariuscanuto]

😢🙏🇺🇸

[@MasterSethern]

A grim reminder that there will be a time, when there is no more WW2 veterans alive, anywhere. That time is coming up very soon. There is already no WW1 Veterans alive today, in any part of the entire world.

[@colinator3043]

Dude Literally survived The Arizona Explosion to surfing and Punching a Fricking Shark in the Nose To saving as many lives as he could. Someone come give Mr Conter a Medal of Honor

[@Brigada91RealBriggy]

yea man, what the hell? what a badass. Friggin legend

[@4thGloryMonday]

thanks josh scott for keeping the memories of these brave men alive

[@mrkhawk]

Yy

[@bigred8313]

The Black Cats were some of the bravest aviators of the war in my eyes. Flying at night over shark infested waters in Zero infested skies to get their jobs done. Respect.

[@stevew6138]

Thank you to the Greatest Generation. I wish every WWII vet had the chance to record their experience for the generations that follow.

[@tomnewham1269]

Not all veterans want to share their stories. We should appreciate the ones who do and respect those who find the memories too painful.

[@stevew6138]

@@tomnewham1269 No one said anything about compulsory participation.

[@jimcronin2043]

We should all be grateful that our country possessed young men of his character at that time.

[@julianjeffbissette7238]

Hello from North Carolina. I want to say thank you for making these videos of veterans who was actually there! If these stories aren't kept alive then we're almost sure to keep making the same mistakes over and over again. My Dad, Julian S. Bissette was a WW2 veteran. He was a combat medic in General Patton's 64th armored tank division, and he used to tell me true stories about things he went through, saw, or had to do while he was over there. He told me that was the coldest that he had ever been in his life while he was over in the European theater. Dad was 6 feet 7 inches tall and he said there was places where the snow drifts came up under his arm pits!! He told me that when they were involved in the "Battle of the Bulge" I believe it was where he said their tanks kept shelling this small mountain all night long where the Germans had several bunkers built into the mountain and he said the barrels of those tanks were glowing white hot and that when the sun came up the next morning they could see that there was not even one single tree left standing on that little mountain and he said the whole thing was black from the shelling all night long. I lost my Dad on June 18, 2003 and all those stories he used to tell me about WW2 once I became an adult means a LOT more to me now than they did when he first told me. Now I'd give anything to hear Dad's WW2 stories again. I remember watching that movie "Patton" with my Dad when it came on tv and he said that George C. Scott was the perfect one to play General Patton in that movie. I remember parts of that movie he would say "I was there, we did so and so, or he would say that really happened like this, and then there were parts of the movie where my Dad cried. In fact I think that's one of the first times I ever remember seeing my Dad cry. May God bless you and your loved ones and keep you all safe and sound during these crazy times we're all living in now!! 🙏✝️🙏❤️🙏🇺🇲🙏 WWG1WGA!!!

[@MemoirsofWWII]

Thank you for sharing a bit of your fathers experiences, he was a true hero! Thanks for watching!

[@DanielJMathews1]

God bless your father my man

[@julianjeffbissette7238]

@@DanielJMathews1 thanks my friend! If my Dad was still with us he would have turned 104 on September 12. I think it's really important to keep talking about these things as fewer and fewer schools actually teach about WW2 like when I was in school. May God bless you and your loved ones and keep you all safe and sound during these crazy times we're living through now days. I also pray you will have a very Merry Christmas and a happy and safe new year!! #WWG1WGA!!! 🙏✝️🙏❤️🙏🇺🇲🙏 ✝️🙏👼🎄🎁🎅✨️

[@cliftongaither6642]

thank you for sharing your dad's story. he and all of those young men were heroes.

[@julianjeffbissette7238]

@cliftongaither6642 thank you for the kind words my friend! In today's world it seems like you don't find very many people who are kind to others like you are. If my Dad were here I'd have him on KZbin telling stories about what he did and had to do in WW2 under General "blood and guts" Patton's command. Thanks again my friend!! May God bless you and all of your loved ones and watch over you and keep you safe and sound during these crazy times that we're all living in now days!!!!!!!

[@DarylW426]

Thank you Mr. Conter for your bravery and duty to your country. Thank you Josh for making it possible that these Heroes will live forever. God Bless them all.

[@williamchastain9510]

I’ve been waiting for an upload from you guys for a while now and was worried you ran out of interviews, thank god that isn’t the case.

[@johnkelley2615]

Hopefully my grandpas interview comes out soon. They did the interview last may. I hope he gets to see it before he dies.. 😔

[@jek4587]

@@johnkelley2615 What did he do in the war? How is his health?

[@dodotesla]

@@johnkelley2615 he'll get to see it! Don't worry 😊

[@Wendy90059]

Same ! That’s always my thought.. I love these interviews & stories. These men are amazing! Thank you for the ppl who come together 2 do these videos 4 everyone to see❣️

[@stevebruce1235]

Thank you all for your service to this wonderful country the lives that were given for our freedom again we thank you

[@aaronhancock9864]

This man just casually punched a shark in the nose like it was no big deal. What a legend.

[@jimz68]

The Greatest Generation indeed.

[@OBMBEEZY]

I love how wholesome all these men are

[@krautyvonlederhosen]

Kinda gives a view of how we as a society have mutated.

[@kentd4762]

Yep. Heroes don't wear capes. Thank you, Mr. Conter and your fellow soldiers, for your service!

[@PMC_Wanker_Group]

I saw pictures from below deck of the SS Bunker Hill after it was hit by a kamikaze, I wish I didn't see them, bodies of sailers all piled up and completely blocking the hallway from the molten steel that dripped down onto them.

[@MrAgentEcho]

I know this channel is mostly about ww2, but when the sad day comes that there are none left, please start talking to korean war vets. They are largely forgotten between ww2 and vietnam. I would've loved for you to be able to go see Hershey Miyamura, but he sadly passed on tuesday.

[@jennh2096]

Man said "not today Satan, not today" and started punching sharks in the face. A true legend and hero, may his story never die. Thank you sir for your service and sacrifice to protect our great country. I will never forget what you have done for me and my family

[@williamzanghettijr5862]

I want to thank everyone involved in the making of this series of videos. My two Grandfathers fought in WW2. One in Africa and the other in the Solomon Islands. These men remind me of them as they have since passed on. It is just absolutely incredible what was achieved by the allied forces to stop the Japanese and Germans . Thank you to all the men and women who made that possible. Cheers ,William

[@fredvanweerd5197]

The greatest generation, my father in law Glen Allred landed D-day plus 5. He was a combat engineer, best part, him and thousands of others liberated my father who was a young boy with his family in the Netherlands, they immigrated here in 1949, it's a small world that they settled in the same state where he grew up, so his youngest daughter could marry my dad's oldest son, my neighbor Ira Todd served with the 6th Marine Division in the Pacific, he is why I choose the Marine Corps even though my dad and uncle's were all Air Force veterans of Korea and Vietnam. Great story I will definitely get this book, I love military history.v

[@dinnahgod8349]

Every episode of this series is simply amazing. I’m actually happy we got an update!

[@chijako7990]

As others, I want to say thank you! It's a tragedy when these stories are lost. My great grandfather was a pearl harbor survivor. It traumatized him so much he never talked about it. All we know is he was at church with my great grandmother (they had been married for just over a month) when the attack started. According to family legend, she made him stay for the rest of the meeting. We also know that he was one of the men pulling people out of the water. It was a gruesome scene.

[@jukeman57]

What an amazing account. One of the greatest generations that ever lived. I thank God for each and everything one of these brave heroes, including my dad who was a US Merchant Marine in WWII. He saved many lives also with his gunnery skills.

[@sirbughunter9972]

I would love to meet this man and just sit down and talk with him over a few beers. Wouldn't matter for how many hours, what a badass and incredible man.

[@rickkerts3802]

These men are the real legends! Its sad what the world has become. The best generation will be gone soon...

[@AndrewBlacker-wr2ve]

"These MAN are..." You really don't know that "men" is plural form of "man?"

[@firstandlastnames8308]

No the best generation is the next generation. They will do great things as well.

[@lexicat6177]

@@firstandlastnames8308 No generation suffered more than they did. Depression babies fought WWII, they had nothing and still fought.

[@brettschermeister9389]

What do you mean so sad? It's better than ww2 Era or Vietnam Era. Our people aren't dying everyday and life actually means something. Back then, your life meant nothing. Living or dying was by chance. Don't be retarded.

[@moparedtn]

What the world would be like without such men as Louis is simply unfathomable. God keep you and yours, Mr. Conter - and *thank you* . - Ed on the Ridge

[@fowchiiiliedpuppiesdied]

I think we are seeing what the world is like, without these guys, now. We need more people to be brave. These men had purpose.

[@theworldwariioldtimeradioc8676]

Thank you for sharing this as we approach the 81st anniversary of the Date that will Live in Infamy. This is poignant because I’m betting in the next five years there will be no one left who fought in that battle. Thanks for this.

[@wesinman2312]

Thank you sir, and thank you to all your shipmates that didn't survive that day. My ex's father was at Hickam Field that day, but passed before I got a chance to meet him, I would have loved to hear his account of that day. You are all heroes.

[@OLMasterChief]

I jumped with excitement after waiting a couple extra weeks in hopes to see another video. I got worried we couldnt find anyone. This was a beautiful release of knowing we can still find these men and hear their truely amazing stories.

[@flightlinemedia]

Great video. Thanks for posting.

[@Hevynly1]

Well, wow! What can you even say? That's an extraordinary set of experiences. They just don't make men like they used to, that's for sure. What a guy! I'll add his book to my reading list.

[@fourbyfourer]

WoW, another amazing story!! This one was really touching for me. Thanks for doing what you folks do MoWWII.

[@pickngrin73]

Their stories are amazing. Thank you for your service.

[@pickngrin73]

@user-ip8hb4bp4u and I've got a bridge to sell you. Piss off.

[@xvsj5833]

Thank you for sharing your incredible service, sacrifice and courage for freedom ❤🇺🇸 God Bless you and your family 🙏❤️

[@teddygunzbarno2102]

Thank u for your service and our freedom 🙏

[@OneNationUnderGod.]

Such an amazing veteran! I never knew USS Arizona survivors have been buried inside later on, that brought a tear to my eye. That's brotherhood! 🇺🇸

Outstanding! 👏

[@dotrichardson78]

In Remembrance of: Dunaway, Kenneth Leroy; [EM3c, USN] KIA (Killed In Action) December 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor aboard USS Arizona ((BB-39)) Currant Resting Place. Born in Oklahoma 1922, Son of Mr. John Westley Dunaway

[@charlessaint7926]

I've been to the Arizona. I met four of the last five Arizona survivors in 2016 present that day. To stand over the site where over 1,000 brave men died was humbling. One thing I will say about the battleship, when the salvage crews boarded to recover equipment, they found her 5" guns trained to the sky. The deck strewn with spent shell casings. Proof she went down fighting.

[@rwsmith7638]

I wish we could hear EVERYBODY'S story. I'm glad for the ones that get told.

[@DanielJMathews1]

Thank you for your service Mr.Conter, it's nice to see that your still just as healthy and lively as you were back then. May you and all the other wonderful ww2 veterans who served our country continue to live a happy and healthy life.

[@gsGs-xb6um]

This is my favorite channel. Please keep making content

[@FunSizeSpamberguesa]

I'm so glad you're finding veterans who are willing to talk. My grandfathers and all my great uncles fought in WWII, and none of them would ever talk about it. When I was in high school, my history teacher asked us all to interview any WWII vets in our families, and we all came back with pretty much the same thing: they wouldn't (or couldn't) talk about it. Looking back, they all probably had untreated PTSD.

[@zoso1up]

Great work as always,I've been waiting for new uploads thanks to you and your team and thanks to the Greatest Gen

[@QurikyBark32919]

Keep up the wonderful work guys! I’ll be meeting a USS Iowa/ USS Missouri veteran in the near future and see if he’d like to interview with y’all!

[@MemoirsofWWII]

please fill out a veteran form on our website www.memoirsofwwii.com thanks for the lead! www.memoirsofwwii.com/veteran-form

[@QurikyBark32919]

@@MemoirsofWWII I will gladly do so when I meet him!

[@Halfbaggin]

The longer you guys take to put out a video the more it makes me realize our greatest heros are almost gone. I hope all woman and men involved in the war should know your sacrifice will ALWAYS be the greatest historic event of our time. I wish I could shake the hands of 1. Just 1 single ww2 vet and look him dead in his eyes and thank him.

[@sheilatruax6172]

I was privileged to shake the hand of one a few years ago. I thanked him and he told me," You were worth it!". I managed to get out the pharmacy door before I broke down. I had an uncle, a Marine, who was in the Pacific, on Iwo. My father-in-law was in Europe, US Army. My dad served in Korea, USAF. I am so proud of each and every one of them. I'm sure that the gentleman I met is gone. May they be blessed and hear the trumpet's call with great joy!

[@Halfbaggin]

@@sheilatruax6172 amen!

[@youknownada2326]

I'm Bristish and i thank you and the entire allied forces who faught for our freedom.

[@mitchelldunham3018]

Thank you for the video. I’m always uplifted after listening to these stories and how courageous these men were. It makes me proud to be an American. I can’t wait to read the full story in his book.

[@twangoldenbass]

My goodness. I could keep watching for weeks. Truly amazing and remarkable; the resilience, loyalty to country and comrades, patriotism, courage, dedication and intestinal fortitude. Truly the greatest generation.

[@chillingwiththeboys9572]

You are a great man thanks for sharing these stories

[@robertthomas3777]

It’s vital to record these stories. Our greatest generation. Salute. Lest we forget. 🇦🇺🦘👍

[@explorewithme7540]

My home town in New Guinea-Wewak. Grew up listening to many stories from my grandparents about how they survived the war. Even today many remnants of planes, ships, bombs, guns and caves still remaining.

[@normasalgado4494]

Thank you sir, for creating this important series honoring these heroes who fought in this war. I have several family members who fought in Europe, including one uncle who was killed in Belgium toward the end of the war. Thank you again for preserving their personal stories. This series should be part of the high school history curriculum.

[@Skeptik-pe6ze]

God bless this channel thank you for my gold In this crappy generation

[@frankseville2136]

This man is a HERO!!! This is what America is made of and this is a real American hero!!we should all be thankful we had men built like this man to defend America when we did, if we had WW3 today with all the people hating America it would be very sad situation!! Be proud of your country and always support our troops who protect our freedom!!

[@rikijett310]

Thank you endlessly Sir and may God bless you always!!!! ✝️🇺🇲✝️

[@scarba]

I literally begged my father to write his memories down. I regret not filming him. He only once told me a harrowing story, and then he cried for a man he had killed 60 years before.

[@katrinaball178]

WOW What a testimony! My sister passed away in May. She was only 53 and had stage 4 cancer for several years and finally went home. We are only 11 months and 2 weeks apart in age. Both of our parents are still alive and still married. My mom has always had the gift of seeing and talking to relatives and friends that have passed and in June my mom had a colonoscopy where she had to be put under anesthesia. My sister came to her while she was under and the first thing she said to my mom was tell my little sister that I love her and Daddy that I love him. That was SO COMFORTING for this vision my mom had! I have been complacent in my spiritual life for the past few years but now I've been reading my bible again and watching shows like yours! Thank you so much for sharing your testimony Mr Woodford.

[@thomascrowley9122]

TY your service Mr Conter

[@Clementinewoofwoof]

These videos always make me cry, I can’t exactly cry anymore, but my right eye can still drool…

[@waldopepper1]

Happy 101st birthday Mr Conter!

[@MiiLee_11]

What a story 🙏🏽 God bless Lou ❤️

[@stony983]

I had 9 cousins who died on that ship. They were in the fire up room, and my 2 great grandfather's were there. One was in the navy who was on deck of the Arizona, and one was ground troops who got knicked by one of the bombs dropped in the air base and my other great grandfather saved one man on the Arizona who skull was cracked. Very horrible day they lived.

[@gordonhall9871]

this should be a movie it has everything

[@MrScubajsb]

I love this channel and memories! This world is going to hell in a hand basket and people are forgetting these wonderful stories of these brave heroes who fought for our freedom.

[@notthefbi7932]

Your videos are always amazing and well done 👍

[@yooperlooper]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ Thank-you Mr. Conter and all who serve. War is destruction to the max - all for the love of the almighty dollar. Shameful

[@wisconsinfarmer4742]

This fellow knew how to think on his feet.

[@AVB2]

Had Truman not dropped the bombs my three sisters, two brothers and myself would not be here. My father was one of the 250,000 Marines in the Fifth Marine Division (Amphibious) that was going to storm the beaches of Kyushu Japan. Operation Olympic, the invasion of Kyūshū, was to begin on "X-Day", which was scheduled for 1 November 1945. Instead he was in the US occupational forces to insure peace held in Japan.

[@johndilday1846]

Same for my two sisters and myself. Our father trained as a glider pilot for the invasion, and was told that he had a slim chance of survival given the odds against airborne glider troops. He was always grateful to Harry Truman for having the guts to drop the bombs even though some were against it.

[@Menez47]

The USS ARIZONA BABY man I wish I could’ve seen her in her glory.

[@johnstevens9673]

You guy are gonna have to expand to interviewing Korean war vets. Not many WWII guys left to meet.

[@simpletruth5224]

Thank you 🙏 You are the very best of America 🇺🇸

[@aretnap3653]

Remember TheBeginning of 'Medal of Honor : Rising Sun'?... That Guy *LIVED* It!

[@alicemcpherson7961]

Thank you Mr. Content for your service. We are a free Nation thank to you and others like you. I owe my freedom to you.

[@Rzr543]

Thank God these men were on our side.

[@danyz250f]

Thanks josh.. and if you were wondering I cry every episode.

[@banjo1241]

Thank you, sir!

[@elizabethstagner7529]

Lou is an amazing man!!!

[@telluride4017]

What an exciting life they lived!!!

[@tedbeaver2394]

Wow, what a tough guy!!

[@robbiemcc4355]

Outstanding.

[@brandonwestbrook6003]

Lou was a tough sob.. just like most of our boys in those days. God bless the greatest generation

[@jgonzalez101]

Thank you for this great Interview and Presentation! God bless this great Navy Pilot!

[@Pasqual1320]

Amazing story just as everyone you guys put out. Can’t wait for the next one!

[@sammyy1105]

what an amazing story!

[@Freedom-nu7he]

Please keep up this great work

[@bulletsponge1656]

Wow what a great story and admirable veteran !!

[@carabela125]

Simply inspiring.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for sharing this man's story. He really has an incredible story and he is a real hero.

[@fowchiiiliedpuppiesdied]

Thanks!

[@kellycervi4698]

Thank you Sir!!!

[@jaredevildog6343]

What a great video. Thank you for this amazing story.

[@matijarizmal6594]

This hero was also on national geopraphic on pearl harbor series last year

[@fredthebulldog529]

Incredible story, incredible person, incredible video. Great work everyone

[@jt4854]

Absolute badass

[@Soulmusic357]

Thank you for your service.

[@EliteFuller]

What a man

[@uzi9621]

Amazing as usual. Keep up the good work

[@johnzabik270]

Thank you sir for your service 👍 I appreciate it so much.

[@ocularpressure4558]

Lou thanks for your amazing dedication to our beautiful country ❤🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@chocolatefrenzieya]

Wow, what a cutie! What a man! This is the guy you want with you during emergencies.