Episode 4
Lt. Jim Downing
Pearl Harbor Survivor
*This podcast contains content that some may find graphic in nature.
Many of you may remember that last year, the WVU Alumni Association honored Lieutenant
Jim Downing, then the second oldest Pearl Harbor Survivor, in a special ceremony
in front of the mast of the USS West Virginia and on Mountaineer Field during the
Veterans Day football game. Lieutenant Downing passed away at the age of 104 in
February of this year, but in the few short days that he was with us in Morgantown,
he made an unbelievable impact on our faculty and students. During that time, Lieutenant
Downing sat down for a special interview with several veterans, hosted by President
and CEO of the WVU Alumni Association, Colonel Sean Frisbee.
In this Episode of ALL 'EERS we listen in on that conversation and learn about the
attacks on Pearl Harbor first-hand. Lieutenant Downing talks about his childhood,
his first days in the military, his family and of course, his account of December
7th 1941. A short word of warning, some of Lieutenant Downing’s stories do become
graphic as he discusses the details of the attack and its aftermath. He finishes
the interview by talking about the future of our nation and the importance of keeping
America safe and strong.
As we approach the 77th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor please enjoy our
conversation with Lieutenant Jim Downing.