Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Laurie Dexter | 150909-N-GI544-115 PEARL HARBOR (Sept. 9, 2015) Geri Erickson, the daughter of the...... read more read more
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PEARL HARBOR – Ashes of the late Pearl Harbor survivor U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Daryl L. Finch were scattered into the waters at the USS Utah Memorial on Ford Island, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam during an ash-scattering ceremony Sept. 9.
Finch was born in Fairbanks, Iowa, Sept. 9, 1920, making the day of the ceremony his 95th birthday.
He joined the U.S. Navy in 1938, and upon completion at Recruit Training Command, he received orders to the battleship USS Oklahoma (BB 37) in Pearl Harbor.
After spending time as a mess cook aboard the Oklahoma, he was sent to metal smith school and later was reassigned to the naval aviation supply center on Ford Island.
“He was very fortunate to have been at the supply center on December 7th,” said Jim Taylor, Pearl Harbor survivor liaison. “The USS Oklahoma had over 400 casualties that day.”
During the morning of the 1941 Japanese attacks, Finch was in the medical clinic on Ford Island helping out injured personnel.
According to Finch’s daughter, Sandie Holstein, he didn’t talk about the attack on Pearl Harbor.
“We, the daughters, knew almost nothing about that time,” said Holstein. “As far as his military service, he loved flying and he loved the Navy.”
According to Holstein, her father was a sportsman; he loved hunting, fishing and playing golf.
Geri Erickson, Finch’s daughter, said she was grateful for the ceremony.
“It’s just amazing to me,” said Erickson. “I’m so happy they were able to take care of and do what my dad wanted. So I just thank god and I thank the Navy for being able to do this for us.”
| Date Taken: | 09.09.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 09.10.2015 18:33 |
| Story ID: | 175629 |
| Location: | PEARL HARBOR, HI, US |
| Web Views: | 82 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Dec. 7 Survivor returns for final resting place, by PO2 Laurie Dexter, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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