Illinois WWII Memorial

Announciing Pearl Harbor 84th Ceremony

FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS - With great sadness, we mourn the passing of one of the last surviving sailors who bravely served in the Pearl Harbor attack. He was 102. Mahaffey was aboard the USS Oklahoma on December 7, 1941, diligently preparing the ship for inspection when it was tragically torpedoed and capsized, leaving it on its side. In the face of this immense tragedy, Mahaffey demonstrated extraordinary courage and resilience by jumping into the water and swimming swiftly to the USS Maryland, where he found safety. Every day, we remember and honor the sacrifices made by those like Mahaffey, ensuring that the memory of the Greatest Generation lives on. The Greatest Generations Foundation.