USS Arizona Survivor dies.

Hearld-Press, Huntington, Indiana ^ | 20 June 2005

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Pearl Harbor survivor Russell McCurdy dies

Russell J. McCurdy, who as a 23-year-old Marine survived the bombing of the USS Arizona, died Friday at his home in Mt. Etna. He was 87. McCurdy was stationed on a lookout platform nearly 85 feet above the Arizona's main deck when the Japanese bomb tore through the Arizona's forward magazine. It ignited 1 million pounds of explosives and killed 1,175 of McCurdy's shipmates. The Dec. 7, 1941, sneak attack on Pearl Harbor put the United States in the middle of World War II. In recent years, McCurdy has described his experiences to audiences throughout the area. He received a Purple Heart in 2002 for the injuries he sustained at Pearl Harbor. He also received a Bronze Star for reviving his platoon's tank after it was attacked in Peleliu, in the Pacific Theater, during World War II.

He served in the Marines for 24 years, retiring in 1965 as a lieutenant colonel. He was employed by Breedlove & Son, Marion, as an appliance salesman for 17 years, retiring in 1982.

He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2689, the First Marine Division Association, Pearl Harbor Survivors, and Arizona Reunion Association.

Mr. McCurdy died at his home in Mt. Etna at 9 a.m. Friday (June 17, 2005).

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Memorial gifts may be made to the Hoosier Veterans Assistance Foundation in care of Deal-Rice & Van Gilder Funeral Home, 338 E. Washington St., Huntington IN 46750.

Online condolences: ricefun@comcast.net.

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Graveside services will be held Friday at 11 AM at the Marion National Cemetery in Marion ,Indiana. Col McCurdy was an outstanding Gentleman and a Marine through and through. He suffered major burns and wounds on the Arizona. He Went to Marine OCS and served as a tank platoon leader in Pelilu(?) and other Pacific Islands, with Chesty Puller. Semper Fi to a great Marine.

[nikos1121]

Excuse my lapse in memory, but was this the ship that sunk, exposing the survivors to shark attack? With more killed from that than the actual bombing?

[wyattearp]

Wow. No. The Arizona was the one that blew up in the attack in Pearl Harbor.

[Countyline]

HONOR ... LOYALTY ... TRUST ...

PROUD AND TRUE ...

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There is a website for more history on Col. McCurdy on the Arizona at www.rjmccurdy.com

[Blood of Tyrants]

No, the battleship, USS Arizona was sunk at the sneak attack at Pearl Harbor (read the article). You are thinking about the heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis.

[Ranxerox]

Think Pearl Harbor...

[nikos1121]

YOu're right...It was the USS Indianapolis...

[nikos1121]

You're right I just remembered....

[jaydubya2]

No. The Arizona was made into a memorial at Pearl Harbor.

[wyattearp]

I can never remember the name. For some reason I always think "Philadelphia", which leads me to thinking about the philadelphia experiment... %-)

I had to google it to remember. Indianapolis was sunk after delivering the atom bomb to Tinian.

[muir_redwoods]

My father-in-law was an ensign assigned to the Arizona. He had swapped duties with a friend that night and was home above the harbor with his wife when the attack began. He got into his uniform and dissappeared for three days until he could get back to his wife and tell her they were both leaving, she for San Francisco and he for the Atlantic theater.

He spoke German, Spanish, French and Italian. The navy, in it's infinite wisdom had put him in the Pacific. Once in the Atlantic he eventually made his way through North Africa and was aboard one of the support ships ar D-Day. He is the only veteran I ever heard of, let alone met who was at both Pearl Harbor and at D-Day. I am sure there were many others. He died in 1988 at the age of 72 and never spoke of the war.

[SoCal Pubbie]

Mr. McCurdy (right) accepts the certificate from American Legion Post 7 Commander, Kenny Johnson..

[Frank_Discussion]

BTTT

[lunarbicep]

Ping

[Vision]

Welcome home Sir