Pearl Harbor survivor returns to sea
by Blair Martin
FORD ISLAND, Hawaii (NNS) -- Pearl Harbor survivor, Ed Chappell was laid to rest with his shipmates during a scattering of ashes ceremony, May 1.

In a private ceremony with full military honors, Chappell's ashes were scattered into the peaceful waters of USS Utah Memorial on Ford Island.

The ceremony was a fitting tribute for the survivor, who family described as a "die hard patriot."

"This was who Ed was," said stepson Greg Phipps, holding up the flag he was given at the ceremony. "He was a firm, no-nonsense guy but also could be very loving and passionate. He sure loved his country."

Before his death in March, Chappell had spent much of his 84 years of life committed to his country in one form or another. In 1941, the Oklahoma native joined the Navy at 17 years old and after re-enlisting one more time, he retired as a Gunners Mate 2nd Class in 1947. Upon his retirement from the Navy, Chappell pursued a career as a police officer but never forgot what he saw as a young Sailor at Pearl Harbor.

In an interview with the Honolulu Advertiser in 2001, Chappell recalled serving as a mess cook on that day of infamy; Dec. 7, 1941. He was busy prepping food in the galley aboard USS Maryland (BB 46) when the first round of attacks hit the island. Just one ship away from USS Arizona (BB 39), Chappell and his shipmates were prime targets for their Japanese attackers. In fact, he said the Japanese bombers came so close to his ship, he could see their faces. When USS Arizona exploded, the young teenager was thrown from his gunning post and suffered a concussion.

"When you have something like that happen to you, it is embedded in your mind forever," Chappell said in the interview . "I could do without it."

The traumatic experience of the attacks forced him, in his own words, to "grow up in a damn hurry."

"Anybody who says they were not scared that day or doesn't recall it is full of it," he said. "I was near to the Oklahoma and I could hear those guys in there tapping, 'Here we are, help us.' And there were guys in the burning water, screaming, and there was not a damn thing you could do about it."

Driven by his passion to preserve the memory of his fallen shipmates at Pearl Harbor, Chappell joined the Pearl Harbor Survivor Association (PHSA) in 1963. For more than 30 years, he would serve as the organization's historian and custodian of artifacts and memorabilia, eventually becoming the organization's national president in 2000.

Fellow Pearl Harbor survivor and friend, Ray Emory, said he met "good 'ole Ed" when he joined PHSA in 1966. Emory, who was a 20-year-old seaman aboard the Brooklyn-class light cruiser USS Honolulu (CL 48) during the Pearl Harbor attacks, said he and Chappell had a lot in common. Both not only survived one of the deadliest attacks in American history, they shared a great passion and sense of national pride for their country.

"For me, he was a true Pearl Harbor survivor," Emory said while paying his respects at the ceremony.

"[Because of his time in the Navy] he could be a very no-nonsense, matter-of-fact and dedicated individual. But he was also very loyal. If you were lucky enough to be Ed's friend, you would be a friend for life."

Chappell's ceremony included a short religious service, scattering of ashes and a three-volley rifle salute by the Navy Region Hawaii Ceremonial Guard. A Navy bugler was also on hand to sound Taps as a Sailor presented the American Flag to his family.

"Ed was among those who have answered their call to defend our country's freedom during one of the most horrid days in American history," said Jim Taylor, Pearl Harbor survivor liaison for Navy Region Hawaii. "He deserves to be honored as the true American hero he was."

Phipps, who made the trip with his wife from California, said he thought the services were especially touching, considering his stepfather's patriotic legacy.

"Ed was not the kind of person reaching for glory or wanting to be a hero," Phipps explained. "But he would have respected this because of the huge impact the Navy had on him. If he was here today, I think he would be sitting in the back with a tear in his eye."