Surviving sailor voyages back for USS Arizona dedicationThe 69th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor is today — Dec. 7 — and will include a dedication of the new $54 million USS Arizona Museum.Unfortunately, the survivors, now hitting their late 80s or early 90s, are dying off.

“This will be the last time we're definitely going to Pearl Harbor,” said Ray Brittain, 89, of Powell, and second district director for the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association.

“I'll be there on the 7th of December,” Brittain said.

Brittain was serving on the battleship USS Tennessee when the Sunday-morning attack occurred at Battleship Row, quite literally out of the blue.

“Over 2,400 people died, hundreds of planes were destroyed, and a fleet containing eight battleships was ruined,” said the association's website.

“We were tied up about 50 feet from the Arizona when the Japanese bombed us,” Brittain said. “We were rigging the quarterdeck for church services.”

The Arizona was sunk, and the Tennessee suffered major damage. But after repairs at Puget Sound Navy Yard, Wash., she was back in the fight, Brittain said.

Brittain said he was a fire control man, meaning he fired the big guns.

“We went through the entire war,” Brittain said. “I covered most of the major battles in the Pacific.”

Tennessee received 10 battle stars and a Navy Unit Citation (equivalent to a Silver Star) during her service in the war, Brittain said.

Brittain was 20 at the time of the attack. He said most of the sailors averaged between 19 and 20 years of age.

Now, the survivors — only four or five in Wyoming — who die these days can have their cremated ashes spread over the Arizona with their fallen comrades who died nearly 70 years ago, Brittain said.

“Remember Pearl Harbor — Keep America Alert,” is the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association motto, Brittain said.

Brittain took the September 2009 honor flight to visit the national World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., he said.

“I was lucky to be chosen for that honor flight,” Brittain said.

A retired woman from the U.S. Air Force was his guardian. She paid the cost for her trip out of her own pocket, Brittain said.

Brittain said he has been a member of the association since its inception in 1958.

This may be the association's last reunion at Pearl Harbor, but its members won't forget. On Dec. 7, the guys will gather at Pearl to reminisce with fellow survivors and “to remember our shipmates that were killed that day,” Brittain said.

Pearl Harbor may not be on the agenda next year, but they will continue to rendezvous.