Navy Sailor Who Survived Pearl Harbor Attack Laid to Rest in Unique Ceremony
Gilbert Meyer, a Navy sailor who survived the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, was laid to rest and reunited with his fallen shipmates inside the sunken USS Utah. Meyer, who passed away in October at the age of 100, was one of 461 USS Utah crewmembers who survived the attack. His family handed his ashes to divers who took them to his final resting place aboard the USS Utah, making it one of the most unique military burials in the world.
At the time of the attack, Meyer was an 18-year-old Fireman First Class assigned to the USS Utah. He served in the Navy for 22 years and retired as a Chief Petty Officer. Meyer went on to write a book about World War II and surviving the attack on Pearl Harbor. Just one survivor of the Pearl Harbor attack who was stationed aboard the USS Utah is still living today. A virtual tour of the USS Utah has been launched to give greater access to the site and its stories.
The annual USS Utah Memorial Ceremony and special interment ceremony for Meyer took place at Ford Island on O’ahu, where loved ones gathered to honor his memory and service.
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