Louis Anthony Conter: USS Arizona Survivor and Nevada County Local Legend
Lou Conter through the years
Lou Conter had a life marked by fortitude, sacrifice, and service. Conter was born in Wisconsin in 1921 and was a member of America’s “Greatest Generation.” He spent his adolescent years moving throughout the country with his family. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1939, marking the start of his highly decorated military career.
Conter’s life would be greatly influenced by the events of December 7, 1941. As a quartermaster on the USS Arizona, Conter survived the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, which would take the lives of 1,177 of his shipmates. Conter's quick thinking and courage were key to his survival from the aerial ambush and subsequent naval destruction that ensued.
Following Pearl Harbor, Conter's military career turned towards the skies. He would later serve as a naval aviator flying with VP-11, one of the first "Black Cat Squadrons" in the Pacific during the Second World War. The many airborne missions he and his squadron would undertake were very dangerous, involving night-time bombings and reconnaissance over enemy-held territories. Conter was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his rescue of 219 Australian coast watchers in New Guinea.
After the Second World War, Conter continued to influence military strategy and training throughout the armed forces. He helped to develop the Navy’s survival training program which prepared aviators for the realities of capture and survival in enemy territory. He helped develop the SERE Program (SERE: Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape) that has trained successive generations of military personnel in advanced survival skills. He would later serve as military advisor to Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson.
After retiring from the Navy in 1967, Conter transitioned to a successful private sector career in real estate brokerage and development, calling Los Angeles his new home. He rubbed shoulders with notable business leaders and Hollywood celebrities, including Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Jack Warner, and Shirley Temple. An avid and talented golfer, he played in six Bob Hope Desert Classics, winning the Pro-Am one year with Johnny Mathis in his foursome.
His success in the private sector did not deter him from remaining bonded and committed to his military roots. His contributions to commemorative events and his role in educating the public about Pearl Harbor are evidence of his dedication to honoring the memory of those lost in battle. His life’s work, both in and out of uniform, has left a lasting impact on military training, veterans’ communities, and historical education. At 95, he was inducted into the Hall of Honor at the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Forces. His contributions to naval history and aviation are widely acknowledged.
Lou Conter's legacy is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the enduring value of service. His life reflects the journey of a man who, despite the unimaginable horrors of war, continued to serve his fellow man, innovate in his field, and educate future generations. He wrote his autobiography “The Lou Conter Story” in 2021 with the intent of educating and reminding readers about the sacrifices made by those who serve.
The memorial service for Lou Conter will take place on Tuesday, April 23rd at 10:30 am, at St. Patrick’s Church at 235 Chapel Street in Grass Valley, California. Louis Anthony Conter, the last remaining survivor of the bombing of the USS Arizona, died peacefully at his home in Grass Valley on April 1st, 2024. He was 102 years old.
Lou Conter enjoyed sharing the story of “The Flag,” which he believed every American should know and embrace:
“I am the flag of the United States of America. My name is old glory. I fly atop the world's tallest buildings. I stand watch in America's halls of justice. I fly majestically over great institutes of learning, and I stand guard with the greatest military power in the world.
“Look up and see me! I stand for peace, honor, truth, and justice. I stand for freedom. I am confident and I am arrogant. I am proud. When I am flown with my fellow banners my head is a little higher, my colors a little truer. I bow to no one, period. I am recognized all over the world. I am honored and saluted. I am respected. I am revered. I am loved and I am feared. I have fought every battle of every war for more than 200 years: Gettysburg, Shiloh, Appomattox, San Juan Hill, the trenches of France, the Argonne Forest, Ansio, Rome, the beaches of Normandy, the deserts of Africa, the cane fields of the Philippines, the rice patties and jungles of Guam, Okinawa, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and scores of places long forgotten by all those who were with me. I was there. I led my soldiers. I followed them. I watched over them. They love me.
“I was on a small hill in Iwo Jima. I was dirty, battle worn, and tired, but my soldiers cheered me on, and I was proud.
“I have been soiled, burned, torn and trampled on the streets – streets of countries I have helped to set free. It does not hurt, for I am invincible. I have been soiled, burned, torn and trampled on the streets of my own country, and when it is by those with whom I have served in battle, it hurts-but I shall overcome for I am strong.
“I have slipped the bonds of earth and stood watch over the uncharted new frontiers of space from my vantage point on the moon. I have been a silent witness to all of America's finest hours. But my finest hour comes when I am torn into strips to be used for bandages for my wounded comrades on the field of battle, when I fly at half-mast to honor soldiers, and when I lie in the trembling arms of a grieving mother at the graveside of her fallen child. I am proud.
“My name is Old Glory. Long may I wave. Dear God – long may I wave.”
Lou Conter’s Memorial Service will be held the morning of April 23. Learn more about the event.