Not elder law: Pearl Harbor survivors’ numbers are dwindling
Since that terrible morning 65 years ago, the survivors of theattack on Pearl Harbor have been called heroes, V.I.P.’s of thegreatest generation, and the first American witnesses to the last worldwar. But more and more, the members of this exclusive group are beingcalled something else: endangered.
With age and aching jointsslowing even the most hardy of old sailors, marines and airmen, themajor national survivors group has decided this year’s anniversarygathering will be its last in Hawaii.
“We’re getting about asextinct as the dodo bird,” said Mal Middlesworth, the president of thePearl Harbor Survivors Association, which traditionally meets hereevery five years. “The way it’s going, our next national conventionhere we could hold in a phone booth.”
Mr. Middlesworth, 83, whowatched the attack from the deck of the heavy cruiser San Francisco,said much of his membership of 4,600 survivors had simply become tooold to travel great distances. “There’s a lot of people in wheelchairsand in walkers,” he said. “And we don’t have any replacement troops.”