I may have posted this before, but I went to the Arizona memorial in 1993.
While we were out there, a small skiff came alongside, two naval escorts for an old man who they helped up a ladder. He was probably in his 70's, maybe 80. He immediately went to the wall of names where he paid his respects for about five minutes. I think he left before us.
I have always assumed it was a survivor. How amazing to have shared that moment with him. And what I wouldn't have given to hear his story, but it was clearly not the time to try and talk to him. But who was he? What had he seen? How had he survived? How many friends has he lost? How had he made it through the rest of the war?
Questions I will never know, and now no one is left to share any of those types of answers.
Just another sad loss that comes with the march of time.