Ray Emory

[vostoktrading]

Pearl Harbor survivor who pushed to identify ‘unknowns’ dies

HONOLULU — A Pearl Harbor survivor who pushed to identify buried unknown remains from the 1941 attack died Monday at age 97.

Ray Emory lived through the early morning Japanese aerial bombing but never forgot those who didn't. He spent the past few decades doggedly pushing for those unknown buried remains to be dug up, identified and returned to their families.

Emory died "died peacefully and without pain" in a hospital in Boise, Idaho, according to his family, said Billy Doughty, deputy director of public affairs for Navy Region Hawaii.

He recently moved to Boise to live with his son. He left Hawaii because his wife had died and he didn't have any family in Hawaii. He planned to go fishing in Idaho.

Before moving, he visited Pearl Harbor one last time in June. More than 500 sailors stood side-by-side on ships and piers to surprise him. They greeted him with salutes and cheers.

"Chief Emory fought back that day, manning his machine gun, taking on enemy planes," Rear Adm. Brian Fort, commander, Navy Region Hawaii and Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific, said at the ceremony honoring Emory. "He continued to fight on throughout the War in the Pacific. He and his buddies, with help from the home front, helped create an unprecedented era of peace, stability and prosperity. Victory at the end of World War II was Ray's finest hour."

During the attack on Pearl Harbor, Emory managed to fire a few rounds at the airplanes that dropped the torpedoes. He still had an empty bullet casing that fell to his ship deck.

In 2012, the Navy and National Park Service recognized Emory for his work with the military and Department of Veterans Affairs to honor and remember Pearl Harbor's dead.

Bureaucrats didn't welcome his efforts, at least not initially. Emory says they politely told him to "'go you-know-where.'" It didn't deter him.

First, thanks to legislation sponsored by the late U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink of Hawaii, he managed to get gravestones for unknowns from the USS Arizona marked with name of their battleship.

In 2003, the military agreed to dig up a casket that Emory was convinced, after meticulously studying records, included the remains of multiple USS Oklahoma servicemen. Emory was right, and five sailors were identified.

It helped lay the foundation for the Pentagon's decision more than a decade later to exhume and attempt to identify all 388 sailors and Marines from the USS Oklahoma who had been buried as unknowns in a national cemetery in Honolulu.

Since those 2015 exhumations, 138 sailors from the USS Oklahoma have been identified. About 77 have been reburied, many in their hometowns, bringing closure to families across the country.

 

 

 

 

[mghcal]

He seemed to be a really decent man who spent a lot of time honoring those who gave all that fateful December morning. Godspeed Ray and condolences to his family.

[tarbridge]

RIP...

[USMCR79]

Calm Seas Sailor R.I.P.

 

Bill

[Rakkasan187]

Continuing the fight after the guns went silent. A remarkable person for ensuring due recognition and closure for some families..

 

I'm sure he was greeted with welcome arms in Heaven..

 

"Well done good and faithful servant...." Matthew 25:23

 

Leigh

[KASTAUFFER]

Thank you for posting. Ray was my Father in Law. The legacy of the work he completed will live on.

 

Kurt

[Wharfmaster]

So very sorry.

[huntssurplus]

Sad to hear another Pearl Harbor survivor has passed away... RIP

[mes]

Kurt So very sorry to hear of his passing. He brought peace to so many families of the USS Oklahoma. Rip.

Mark

[Allan H.]

Kurt,

 

My sincere condolences. You've spoken and written about him for as long as I've known you (going clear back to the old AOL Militaria message board), and I know that he will be sorely missed. You've done well to tell his story and will continue to keep his memory alive. God bless you and your family during this trying time. God bless Ray Emory.

 

Allan

[patches]

RIP

[KASTAUFFER]

Thank you to all for the tributes to Ray and the condolences to our family.

 

All of you are why this forum is a great place.

 

Kurt

[bobgee]

R.I.P. Chief Emory. Condolences to your wife and your family, Kurt. He did great work. Semper Fi.......Bob

[vostoktrading]

Kurt,

 

I didn't know that Ray was your Father in law.

Deepest sympathy for you & your family's loss.

Ray was a remarkable person. He did so much that needed to be done regarding our unknown servicemen from December 7, 1941.

If he hadn't been so tenacious we would be years behind where we are now.

 

Rest in Peace Chief.

[KASTAUFFER]

Kurt,

 

I didn't know that Ray was your Father in law.

Deepest sympathy for you & your family's loss.

Ray was a remarkable person. He did so much that needed to be done regarding our unknown servicemen from December 7, 1941.

If he hadn't been so tenacious we would be years behind where we are now.

 

Rest in Peace Chief.

Thank you and I appreciate you starting the thread.

 

Here is a photo I thought everyone would enjoy. It's a photo of Ray wearing his original chiefs hat just the way he like to wear it.

[RustyCanteen]

Thank you and I appreciate you starting the thread.

 

Here is a photo I thought everyone would enjoy. It's a photo of Ray wearing his original chiefs hat just the way he like to wear it.

 

That is an excellent photo of him, and a good one to remember him by.

 

RIP