The first meeting of what would become the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association took place on December 7, 1954 at the Del Camino Room in Gardena, California where eleven survivors of the attack gathered to remember their fallen comrades and dear friends. It was at this first meeting that those in attendance swore that they would make the commemoration an annual event. At the association's official founding dinner in 1958 with thirteen survivors present, the eleven survivors who were present at the 1954 meeting were proclaimed the Founding Fathers of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association. Those eleven survivors were: Clarence Bonn, Mark Ferris, George Haines Jr. Edward Kronberger, Robert Kronberger, Samuel Kronberger, Raymond LeBer, George Schafer, Louis P. Smith, Ed Steffa, and James C. Taneyhill. Following the 1958 meeting, the members began searching for other military survivors of the Pearl Harbor attack. A dinner of the group on December 7, 1960, led to the first Pearl Harbor Survivors Association National Reunion at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, California where over 300 survivors joined in commemoration of the event on December 7, 1961. President John F. Kennedy sent his personal representative to this convention. Over 1,000 survivors attended the PHSA National Reunion held at the Lafayette Hotel in Long Beach, California on December 7–8, 1962. At this meeting, the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association constitution was presented and ratified by the members. Mark Ferris, who initiated the group's first meeting in 1954, after visiting a reunion held for members of the battleship USS West Virginia, was chosen as the PHSA's first national president. Also, an official PHSA prayer to be said at association reunions was adopted. In October 1964, the PHSA issued its first quarterly newsletter to its members named the Pearl Harbor-Gram. After the national reunion was held in Hawaii, December 4–10, 1966 in honor of the 25th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the national reunion was to be held bi-annually on even numbered years only. The organization was incorporated under the laws of the State of Missouri and the PHSA National Insignia was registered in Washington D.C. An official PHSA flag containing the PHSA's national insignia which shows an American bald eaglein flight holding a large bomb in its claws within a large circle, was made available for association members in April 1966. On February 24, 1996, 73 PHSA members attended the christening and launching of the USS Pearl Harbor at the Avondale Shipyard located on the west bank of the Mississippi River near New Orleans, Louisiana. The arriving members were greeted by many naval officers including Admiral Jeremy "Mike" Boorda, the Chief of Naval Operations. The members were introduced to the over 600 other military and civilian honorees in attendance who also were invited. At the 1998 PHSA's National Convention in Las Vegas, a PHSA Scholarship program was adopted. A scholarship was open to any U.S. citizen who is a direct descendant of a PHSA member or deceased member, including step or adopted children. On December 7, 2011, during the 70th anniversary ceremony in Hawaii of the attack on Pearl Harbor, William Muehleib, the President of the PHSA, announced that due to the ages and health of the 2,700 members, the executive board had decided to terminate the corporate association as of December 31 of that year. The Pearl Harbor-Gram closed its membership in February 2012. However, informal social and local activities involving Pearl Harbor survivors were to continue. Peak membership for the association was 18,000 members nationally and over 70,000 members worldwide.
Qualification for membership
Member of the U.S. Armed Forces on December 7, 1941.
Must have been on station at the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, or on the island of Oahu, or off shore, not to exceed three miles.
Must have received an honorable discharge or received a discharge under honorable conditions.
A proposal was introduced at the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association National Reunion in Clearwater, Florida on December 6, 1965, for an organization of the descendants of Pearl Harbor survivors. This was followed by a second proposal during the association's following reunion at New York City on December 6, 1970, where it was approved. The first chapter of the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors was founded on December 6, 1972, in St. Petersburg, Florida. On October 20, 1973, the SDPHS became an independent nationwide organization. The non-profit organization has over 3,500 members in 50 states and foreign countries. The group also allows associate membership.
PHSA plaques
USS Arizona Memorial - A plaque was dedicated during the PHSA's first National Reunion in Hawaii in December 1966.
U.S. Naval Academy - At the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, a wall memorial in Alumni Hall is reserved by the PHSA to commemorate those who were killed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Notable members
Ray Chavez — Former oldest living Pearl Harbor association member, until his death at age 106 in November 2018.
Elvis Presley — Became an honorary member of the PHSA, Silver State Chapter 2 on December 15, 1965, and was presented a PHSA plaque for his contribution in helping get the USS Arizona Memorial started in 1961.
The Pearl Harbor Commemorative Medal, also known as the Pearl Harbor Survivor’s Medal, is a 1.5 inch bronze medal which was established by the United States Congress on November 5, 1990 in memory of the 50th anniversary in 1991 of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The medal was issued from February 1, 1991 to December 6, 1993. The circular medal was not designed for or allowed to be worn or displayed on uniforms etc. Requirements: "a person must have been a member of the Armed Forces of the United States who was present in Hawaii on December 7, 1941, and who participated in combat operations that day against Japanese military forces attacking Hawaii. A person who was killed or wounded in that attack shall be deemed to have participated in the combat operations." The presentation of the medals was to be as "close as feasible to the fiftieth anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor." On September 23, 1996, Congress authorized anyone who would have qualified for the medal other than the requirement for membership in the Armed Forces to receive the award. In both instances, there was a 12-month certification window, therefore, the award is no longer issued. In both instances the next-of-kin of deceased persons eligible for the award were authorized to apply for the medal. Front side : REMEMBER PEARL HARBOR - DECEMBER 7, 1941 - ACT OF CONGRESS 1990 Back side : FOR THOSE WHO SERVED - "A DATE WHICH WILL LIVE IN INFAMY"
