In the midst of the chaos that ensued on December 7, 1941, Conter found himself on the deck of the Arizona as a quartermaster. The peaceful morning was shattered when Japanese planes swooped down upon the harbor just before 8 a.m. In a poignant account shared during an oral history interview with the Library of Congress, Conter vividly remembered witnessing a Japanese bomb piercing through the ship’s decks, igniting the munitions magazine, and ultimately leading to its tragic sinking.
Conter recalled the chaotic scene as individuals desperately fled the raging fire, attempting to leap over the sides. The sea, covered in oil, was ablaze, intensifying the danger and urgency of the situation.
Over 900 sailors’ remains are still entombed in the wreckage of the Arizona on the seafloor of Pearl Harbor, now resting beneath a memorial. A mere 335 sailors managed to survive the tragic incident.
Following the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor, Conter took part in Naval flight school and assumed the role of a pilot for a PBY Catalina, a seaplane bomber specifically utilized for submarine hunting. Throughout his tenure, he fearlessly carried out over 200 missions alongside a renowned “Black Cats” squadron, engaging in covert night raids while utilizing aircraft that were meticulously painted black.
In 1943, Conter had the harrowing experience of being shot down near New Guinea. Fortunately, a nearby aircraft came to their rescue by dropping a lifeboat for the crew.
He later trained sailors on jungle survival and other tactics as one of the Navy’s first SERE officers, which stands for survival, evasion, resistance, and escape.
After dedicating 28 years of his life to the Navy, he decided to retire in 1967.
Louann Daley, the daughter of the deceased, expressed her relief and gratitude in knowing that her father is now at peace. She finds solace in the fact that he did not suffer during his transition. Louann also shared that her father was reunited with his beloved wife, Val, who was eagerly waiting for him on the other side.
Tony Conter and Ron Fudge, along with his daughter, are the surviving family members of the late individual.
During Pearl Harbor remembrance ceremonies, Conter, who has been a regular attendee, humbly declines to be called a hero.
“The heroes are the 2,403 men who lost their lives. It is crucial that we honor them above all else,” Conter emphasized in an interview with the AP in 2022.
