T-R FILE PHOTO
The late Ed Welter, left, is shown receiving the President’s USS Arizona medal from the late and former VFW Commander Laurel Phipps of Marshalltown at a Dec. 7, 2011 ceremony at the Iowa Veterans Home as local American Legion and VFW members look on. Welter was a seaman second class stationed on the Arizona.

As the nation mourns those killed at Pearl Harbor 78 years ago today, so too should area residents remember the ultimate sacrifice made by Seaman Second Class William Walter Henderson, 21.

He perished on the U.S.S. Arizona during the sneak Japanese attack.

Henderson was a Newton native who lived in Marshalltown before moving to Bondurant.

He enlisted Oct. 11, 1940, according to records obtained by local historian Jay Carollo.

Henderson was the first Marshalltown man killed in action in World War II.

His mother, Mrs. John Fettkether of Marshalltown, was informed Dec. 21 her son was missing in action.

He was later declared dead.

Henderson was awarded the Purple Heart, and his name is listed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

Henderson’s grave marker is in Newton’s Union Cemetery.

Ed Welter

A late and former Iowa Veterans Home resident was also on the Arizona but was among the 223 survivors.

In 2011, Seaman Second Class Ed Welter, a Waterloo native, gave the Times-Republican a detailed description of the attack which propelled the U.S. into World War II.

“Japanese airplanes used special 18″ projectiles … which had wings and flew straight after release resulting in incredible damage,” he said.

Welter was able to find his way to shore as the ship sank, using ropes and planks to get to safety.

“I saw the Arizona explode,” he said. “It was so powerful, it opened the ship up like a clam.”

He attended an event marking the 50th anniversary of the attack.

“It was an inspirational and moving experience … especially visiting the Arizona Memorial,” he said.

The 1,177 sailors who perished on the Arizona represent the greatest loss of life on any U.S. warship in American history, according to U.S. Navy historian Bill Hendrix.

John “Jack” Jones

A Marshalltown native and one-time State Center resident was at Pearl Harbor but on the U.S.S. Tennessee, anchored near the Arizona.

The late John “Jack” Jones described the attack to the T-R in 2012.

“It was kind of a shock when the attack began,” Jones said. “It was on a Sunday, we were in a holiday routine.”

Jones, then 17, had enlisted Jan. 2, 1941, with four other Marshalltown men.

The Tennessee took three bomb hits, but escaped major damage.

Jones and his fellow crewmen helped injured sailors on the Tennesse, then worked to pull others out of the water.

“We were out in life rafts,” he said. “There was oil all around us, with smoke and fire. It was nasty, but we had a job to do.”

Half-staff

Gov. Kim Reynolds ordered all flags in Iowa flown at half-staff on Saturday in honor of Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

“For 78 years Dec. 7 has lived in infamy, a time to grieve for the 2,403 service members and civilians who lost their lives that tragic day,” Reynolds said. “On Dec. 7, we remember the lives lost that day, honor the sacrifices made and once again fully reflect on the true cost of freedom.”