{"id":73144,"date":"2023-03-01T00:00:47","date_gmt":"2023-03-01T00:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2023\/03\/01\/pearl-harbor-survivor-jack-holder-dies-in-arizona-at-age-101\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T14:48:46","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T14:48:46","slug":"pearl-harbor-survivor-jack-holder-dies-in-arizona-at-age-101","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/veterans\/2023\/03\/01\/pearl-harbor-survivor-jack-holder-dies-in-arizona-at-age-101\/","title":{"rendered":"Pearl Harbor survivor Jack Holder dies in Arizona at age 101"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

PHOENIX \u2014 Jack Holder, a Pearl Harbor survivor<\/a> who went on become a decorated World War II flyer who flew over 100 missions in the Pacific and European theaters, has died in Arizona. He was 101.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Darlene Tryon, a close friend and the executor of Holder\u2019s estate, said he died at Friday at a hospital in the Phoenix suburb of Chandler. The Pearl Harbor National Memorial<\/a> also announced the death. Born to a farming family in Gunter, Texas, Holder joined the Navy in 1940 when he was 18.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was on duty at Ford Island within Oahu\u2019s Pearl Harbor when Japanese aircraft bombed the U.S. naval base on Dec. 7, 1941<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Jack
FILE – Jack Holder, a survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor and the Battle of Midway was honored during a celebration of the Navy\u2019s 239th birthday in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Oct. 11, 2014. (Petty Officer 3rd Class Drew Verbis\/Navy)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe first bomb that fell on Pearl Harbor was about 100 yards from me,\u201d Holder said, adding that he \u201csaw guys swimming through burning oil in the water.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Holder recalled diving into a ditch to avoid gunfire.<\/p>\n\n\n\t