One of last USS Arizona survivors dies at 98

Lonnie Cook, 98, a former Oklahoman who was one of the last survivors of the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor, died Wednesday in California, his family said.

He will be buried in his hometown of Morris, family said.

Cook, who grew up in Morris and was a longtime resident, moved to Carmichael, California, last year.

Of the nearly 2,400 Americans killed in the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the USS Arizona claimed almost half, taking 1,103 men down with it.

Cook was one of about 300 who escaped.

According to the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, there are four Arizona survivors remaining.

During the Pearl Harbor attack, with the battleship Arizona in flames and sinking, Cook joined in efforts to help fallen shipmates.

Some he knew personally, but "they were burned so much I couldn't tell who they were," Cook, who was 19 when he enlisted, told the Tulsa World once.

"All their clothes were burned off, eyelashes, hair. ... A lot of them didn't make it."

Before the ship went under, Cook and other survivors were able to evacuate in boats.

For the rest of the war, Cook would serve on destroyers. He was part of several historic battles including at Midway and Iwo Jima.

Cook was a member of Tulsa's Last Man's Club, an area group of Pearl Harbor survivors and family members. The club coordinated a special send-off last year for Cook and his wife.

Because Cook had not received the 12 battle stars he earned from his time in the Pacific, his family arranged for them to be presented to him during the send-off.

Cook was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Marietta, in December.

Survivors include a daughter, Pat Cunanan.