Free Republic

Every year there are fewer of them, they move more slowly, but their pride and memories of serving on the USS Utah — and surviving its watery death — remain as sharp as if nearly 68 years have not passed. "I still have flashbacks," Clark Simmons, 88, said, maneuvering along the marbled hallway of the state Capitol's fourth floor Wednesday morning, wagging his cane. "Some nights it is worse than others; it just depends on how I feel." He was quiet then for a few moments, gazing at the model of the USS Utah on display as part of an...

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