Harry Chandler, Pearl Harbor Survivor, Passes Away at 103
Harry Chandler, a former Navy medic recognized for rescuing injured sailors during the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, has passed away at the age of 103. His death occurred on Monday at a senior living facility in Tequesta, Florida, as confirmed by Ron Mahaffee, the spouse of Chandler’s granddaughter, Kelli Fahey. Chandler’s health issues included congestive heart failure, but Mahaffee noted that the medical staff attributed his passing to his advanced age.
Chandler’s passing marks him as the third survivor of the Pearl Harbor attack to have died in recent weeks. On December 7, 1941, Chandler served as a hospital corpsman 3rd class when Japanese warplanes unleashed a surprise assault on the naval base, leading the United States into World War II. Recalling the morning of the attack in an interview earlier this year, Chandler recounted seeing the airplanes approach while he was raising the flag at a mobile hospital situated in Aiea Heights, overlooking the harbor.
Initially mistaking the planes for incoming aircraft from the mainland, he quickly realized the grim reality as bombs began to fall. His instinct to survive kicked in, prompting him to seek refuge. “I was afraid that they’d start strafing,” Chandler stated, highlighting the chaotic environment.
His unit promptly deployed trucks to attend to the injured, and in a Pacific Historic Parks oral history interview, he expressed how he boarded a boat to rescue wounded sailors from the oil-covered waters. Despite the grim situation, he remained focused on providing care, stating, “It got so busy you weren’t scared. Weren’t scared at all. We were busy.” After assisting in lifting sailors from the water, he washed them off to remove the oil as he worked tirelessly throughout the crisis.
The attack on Pearl Harbor tragically claimed the lives of over 2,300 U.S. servicemen, with nearly half of them—1,177—being sailors and Marines aboard the USS Arizona, which sank just nine minutes after being attacked. Chandler’s memories of that fateful day were vividly rekindled during a visit to Pearl Harbor for a commemorative ceremony marking the 82nd anniversary of the bombing in 2023. He expressed, “I look out there, and I can still see what’s going on. I can still see what was happening.” When asked what he wished for Americans to understand about Pearl Harbor, he replied, “Be prepared,” insisting that better intelligence could have potentially averted the tragedy.
After World War II, Chandler transitioned to civilian life as a painter and wallpaper hanger, eventually partnering with his brother to own an upholstery business. Additionally, he continued his military service by joining the Navy reserves, from which he retired as a senior chief in 1981. Born in Holyoke, Massachusetts, Chandler spent the majority of his adult life in South Hadley and later divided his time between Massachusetts and Florida.
Known for his love of golf, Chandler achieved the remarkable feat of five hole-in-ones throughout his life, according to his grandson-in-law. He leaves behind one biological daughter and two adopted daughters from his second marriage to Anna Chandler, who passed away in 2004. His family includes two daughters, nine grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren.
Military historian J. Michael Wenger estimated that approximately 87,000 military personnel were stationed on Oahu during the Pearl Harbor attack. Following Chandler’s passing, only 15 survivors remain, according to Kathleen Farley, the California state chair of the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors. In addition to Chandler, Bob Fernandez, who served on the USS Curtiss, also passed away this month at age 100, while Warren Upton, who served on the USS Utah, died last week at the age of 105.
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This article has been updated to clarify that Chandler is survived by two daughters instead of one.
