Raymond J. Haerry, Sr. passed away at the age of 94 years old at the West View Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in West Warwick, Rhode Island on September 27, 2016. He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1940 and completed basic training at the Naval Training Station in Norfolk, Virginia. He reported for duty aboard the USS Arizona in September 1940. He was one of the three-hundred, thirty-five sailors aboard the Battleship, the USS Arizona during the December 7, 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. One-thousand, seven-hundred, seventy-seven men died in the attack. Raymond Haerry was a 19 year old deck crew member (Coxswain) on deck at the time of the attack,. He was blown into the fiery filled water holding the charred remains of his shipmates. After swimming to shore, he ran to an Anti-Aircraft gun but there was no ammunition. He tried to get ammo but a bomb detonated, keeping him from doing so. He found a weapon and fired at the planes from the shore. When the attack subsided, he helped recover bodies. He went on to serve on the USS Opportune, USS Allagash, USS Luiseno, and the USS Muna Kea. He was awarded the Navy Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. Raymond Haerry remained in the Navy, retiring in 1964 with the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer after twenty-five years of Naval service. He was one of six living Arizona crew members before his death. Raymond is survived by his son, Raymond Haerry Jr., and his wife of 70 years, Evelyn Haerry.
Raymond was cremated and his cremains were given to his son, Raymond, Jr. to hold in hopes to later place them at the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. On Saturday, April 15, 2017, a ceremony was held for Raymond. Raymond's granddaughter, Jessica Marino traveled with the cremains from New Jersey to Hawaii with her family. During the ceremony, Jessica handed the urn of cremains to divers who then placed it within the ship's sunken hull. Hundreds of Sailors and Marines are entombed there.
Raymond was cremated and his cremains were given to his son, Raymond, Jr. to hold in hopes to later place them at the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. On Saturday, April 15, 2017, a ceremony was held for Raymond. Raymond's granddaughter, Jessica Marino traveled with the cremains from New Jersey to Hawaii with her family. During the ceremony, Jessica handed the urn of cremains to divers who then placed it within the ship's sunken hull. Hundreds of Sailors and Marines are entombed there.
Raymond J. Haerry, Sr. passed away at the age of 94 years old at the West View Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in West Warwick, Rhode Island on September 27, 2016. He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1940 and completed basic training at the Naval Training Station in Norfolk, Virginia. He reported for duty aboard the USS Arizona in September 1940. He was one of the three-hundred, thirty-five sailors aboard the Battleship, the USS Arizona during the December 7, 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. One-thousand, seven-hundred, seventy-seven men died in the attack. Raymond Haerry was a 19 year old deck crew member (Coxswain) on deck at the time of the attack,. He was blown into the fiery filled water holding the charred remains of his shipmates. After swimming to shore, he ran to an Anti-Aircraft gun but there was no ammunition. He tried to get ammo but a bomb detonated, keeping him from doing so. He found a weapon and fired at the planes from the shore. When the attack subsided, he helped recover bodies. He went on to serve on the USS Opportune, USS Allagash, USS Luiseno, and the USS Muna Kea. He was awarded the Navy Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. Raymond Haerry remained in the Navy, retiring in 1964 with the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer after twenty-five years of Naval service. He was one of six living Arizona crew members before his death. Raymond is survived by his son, Raymond Haerry Jr., and his wife of 70 years, Evelyn Haerry.
Raymond was cremated and his cremains were given to his son, Raymond, Jr. to hold in hopes to later place them at the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. On Saturday, April 15, 2017, a ceremony was held for Raymond. Raymond's granddaughter, Jessica Marino traveled with the cremains from New Jersey to Hawaii with her family. During the ceremony, Jessica handed the urn of cremains to divers who then placed it within the ship's sunken hull. Hundreds of Sailors and Marines are entombed there.
Raymond was cremated and his cremains were given to his son, Raymond, Jr. to hold in hopes to later place them at the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. On Saturday, April 15, 2017, a ceremony was held for Raymond. Raymond's granddaughter, Jessica Marino traveled with the cremains from New Jersey to Hawaii with her family. During the ceremony, Jessica handed the urn of cremains to divers who then placed it within the ship's sunken hull. Hundreds of Sailors and Marines are entombed there.
