Last Witness of Pearl Harbor Passes | Dayton News

Dayton News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 4, 2026 · 1m

Rolland Briar, one of the last living witnesses to the Pearl Harbor attack, has died — his final chapter closing a door on an era of firsthand history. On December 7, 1941, he was aboard the USS Whitney, hearing explosions and smelling smoke before rushing to shore for church — only to be thrust into the chaos that reshaped history. Afterward, he helped reassign survivors across ships, playing a vital role in the immediate aftermath. Honored just last year by the Door County Maritime Museum on Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, Briar’s legacy stands as a solemn tribute to courage, sacrifice, and…