Harry Chandler, a decorated former Navy medic best known for his courageous actions during the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941, has passed away at 103.
He died on Monday in a senior living community in Tequesta, Florida.
Ron Mahaffee, husband of Chandler’s granddaughter Kelli Fahey, revealed that congestive heart failure contributed to his death, which was not unexpected given his advanced age.
Significance of His Legacy
Chandler’s passing marks a significant loss, as he was among the last remaining survivors of the infamous attack, now leaving only a few voices to recount that dark day.
On December 7, 1941, while serving as a hospital corpsman 3rd class, he found himself at the heart of the U.S. naval base amid an assault by Japanese bombers that would thrust the nation into the throes of World War II.
Bravery During the Attack
Reflecting on that fateful morning in an interview with The Associated Press earlier this year, Chandler vividly recalled raising the flag at a mobile hospital located in Aiea Heights when he first saw the planes approaching.
At first, he mistook them for American aircraft—a misjudgment that quickly shifted as he witnessed bombs cascading down from the sky.
Driven by instinct, he sought shelter, desperate to escape the impending turmoil.
He narrated the frantic rush of him and his comrades as they crammed into trucks to help the wounded.
In an oral history interview with Pacific Historic Parks, he shared stories of his harrowing rescues from the harbor, where oil-slicked waters were marred by the destruction of ships.
Even amidst the chaos, his focus on the mission overpowered any fear he felt, a testament to how busyness can sometimes shield us from panic.
Life After Military Service
The attack resulted in the tragic loss of over 2,300 U.S. servicemen, including the 1,177 sailors and Marines who perished when the USS Arizona sank after being hit.
Reminiscing during a ceremony in 2023 that honored the 82nd anniversary of the attack, Chandler expressed how the memories of that day remained vivid and clear, underscoring the necessity for adequate preparedness and enhanced intelligence to prevent such tragedies.
After his military service, Chandler pursued a career as a painter and wallpaper installer before joining forces with his brother in the upholstery business.
He also served in the Navy reserves, retiring as a senior chief in 1981.
Originally hailing from Holyoke, Massachusetts, Chandler spent most of his adult life in South Hadley, not far from his roots.
In his later years, he split his time between Massachusetts and Florida.
A passionate golfer, he celebrated five hole-in-ones throughout his life.
His family legacy includes one biological daughter and two adopted daughters from his second marriage, which lost Anna Chandler in 2004.
He is survived by two daughters, along with a large family that includes nine grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren.
Military historian J. Michael Wenger estimated that around 87,000 military personnel were stationed on Oahu during the attack.
Recently, the military community mourned the loss of two other distinguished veterans: Bob Fernandez and Warren Upton, who passed away at 100 and 105, respectively, following their own remarkable military careers.
Source: Militarytimes