A sad story, but one that is happening across the US as the Greatest Generation answers the final role call.
May 25th KOLR-KSFX Ozarks.
The Springfield chapter of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, Ozarks Chapter 6, will be meeting no more. Begun in 1989 with dozens of members, but, today, only 4 remain. What remained of the treasury was used for a final party.
At one time, there were six chapters in Missouri. The remaining survivors will still try to get together onholidays like Memorial Day, but, as PH Survivor Sam Brayfield said, "Every month, we would lose somebody. So our group is a group that won't grow, you know, like the American Legion or veterans for War."
The May 26th Springfield (Mo) News-Leader reported that there were 8 members left in Ozarks Chapter 6: Dick Ferguson, Charles Jensen, Richard "Lou" Lines, William Martin, Wade Meadows, Guy Piper, and John Reed.
On the vote to dissolve, there was only one dissenting and that was cast by Catherine Baskette, widow of John Baskette who started it in 1989, but died last year. When the attack came, he was on the USS Schley, but retiredfrom the Army. He joined the PHSA in Kansas City and when he moved to Springfield for work, decided to start a local chapter.
Only nine attended, but at one time they had 106 members. John K. Reid and Don P. Wood, were 20 at the time of the attack. Wood suffers from Alzheimer's and Parkinson's and had to leave the meeting early. Reed is moving to St. Louis later this week.
As the "Greatest Generation" Leaves Us. --Old Coot
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