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Lt. Jim Downing (Pearl Harbor Survivor)

Episode 4

*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.