>> His name is Lauren Bruner.
He's a World War II Navy veteran and survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
He's here at the University of Arizona to help commemorate the 75th anniversary of the attack
that marked day one of all-out US involvement in World War II.
>> Six torpedoes from each of our destroyers.
So there's 12 of them coming at the fleet.
>> The 96-year-old is one of a handful of survivors
from the battleship USS Arizona who is still alive.
He's here with this group of Navy and Marine ROTC students,
taking questions and sharing his story.
>> You've got to expect it.
Some day, maybe not, hope not.
>> Aaron Clayton from Spring, Texas,
is a naval officer candidate pursuing his degree at the University of Arizona.
>> Not just read about it.
Not just see it on the TV, but to have history right there in front of you talking to you,
that's truly an amazing experience.
He just has a ton of life still left in him, and it's just amazing knowing what he went
through that day, seeing where he is in his life right now.
>> Thank you, sir, for everything you've taught us.
>> One of those heroes that you never would know about unless someone told you.
>> Thank you for your service.
We really appreciate it.
Looking forward to carrying on your legacy.
>> Bruner joined the Navy shortly after graduating from Alma High School,
just west of Olympia, Washington.
After boot camp in San Diego, he received his orders.
>> Here's the USS Arizona.
I've never seen anything that big in a boat.
So that was quite a thing to get aboard something like that.
>> Arizona was granted statehood in 1912, becoming the 48th state in the Union.
It also became the namesake for the USS Arizona, launched out of New York June 19, 1915.
As with all new sailors aboard a ship, he was assigned to the deck force.
>> Cleaning and sweeping all of the deck, paid work and all.
Keep everything nice and shiny.
>> Several months later, another sailor would report to the USS Arizona, his best friend
and high school classmate, William Mann.
>> So I always called him Billy.
I didn't know he was interested in coming
in until one day the ship pulled back out into Long Beach, California.
I was out on the deck cleaning up, when a guy picked me on the shoulder
and said, "Hey," he says, "I'm here."
I looked around, and here's Billy.
Billy. Billy Mann.
[ Music ]
Oh, we had a great life, and when we got time off, we'd go up to the beach together,
go around and try to find some girls, and we found lots of them.
>> Both men would promote into new roles.
Billy Mann became a gunner's mate, Bruner a fire controlman,
in charge of directing the .50-caliber guns on board.
>> Antiaircraft gunnery system, that was working with the guns, the big 14-inch guns.
>> During his visit to Tucson, Bruner met with student athletes at the U of A,
imparting some of that bear-down spirit that coaches preach and players love to hear.
>> I hope you guys have one hell of a good game tomorrow.
>> He also made his way to Davis Monthan Air Force Base to visit with pilots
and crew of the 47th Fighter Squadron.
Pilots from the 47th shot on more than half a dozen Japanese war planes during the Pearl
Harbor attack.
Here, they share war stories, past and present,
finding common bonds only those who serve can fully understand.
The next night, at Arizona Stadium, the U of A pays tribute to the USS Arizona
and World War II veterans as the 75th anniversary
of the attack on Pearl Harbor approaches.
Lauren Bruner, wearing a custom-made number-75 team jersey, is honored throughout the game
as the Wildcats face-off with Hawaii's Rainbow Warriors.
>> Nice, summer -- summery day, Sunday.
>> It was just before 8 a.m., and he was getting ready to attend church services on the ship.
>> After church, I had a date to meet a little gal over on the beach.
Her name was Nikki.
Never got to see her.
>> The USS Arizona's loudspeaker came on.
>> "All hands on deck.
Man your battle stations.
This is not a drill."
>> The surprise attack came in two waves.
Bombing grounded US planes at airfields around Pearl Harbor,
and the US fleet in Battleship Row.
Bruner had reached the fourth deck and had one more to go.
>> Well, I looked at the channel, and I see these planes coming in.
They were coming in shooting, and there is ammunition going all over the place.
>> He was shot twice in the leg by machine gun fire from a Japanese fighter.
>> One big dive, and I made that five-foot entry right into my battle station.
>> The enemy had struck, and he was close.
>> He just closed up sideways, just one around the front of the ship between the ships.
Big old grin on his face, mouth wide open.
I could see all those teeth.
[inaudible].
But then all heck broke loose after that.
>> Japanese bombers hit the Arizona four times with their bombs.
>> One of the bombs hit the number two turret, which is under my feet,
and I'm about 20 feet ahead of it.
>> That 1700-pound bomb glanced off the turret and dove three decks below
into the forward powder magazine on the starboard side of the ship.
>> Which, unfortunately, was where my buddy, Billy Mann.
That was his station.
It just blew the heck out of everything,
lifted that whole bow they say about 30 feet off the water.
It had one hell of a fire.
>> Moored on the port side of the Arizona was a repair ship, the USS Vestal.
Crew from the Vestal threw a rope to a position on forward mast where Bruner
and five shipmates were stranded.
>> And we tied that to it and my six people crossed that line.
>> Lauren Bruner was the second to the last to leave the USS Arizona, shot by enemy fire
and burned over 70% of his body, he crossed that line hand-over-hand, nearly 100 feet,
charred and bloodied, but undefeated.
2335 military personnel died at Pearl Harbor.
1177 sailors and marines were killed on the USS Arizona.
Lauren Bruner was awarded The Purple Heart, and after recovering from his wounds,
he reported to the USS Coghlan, fighting in eight more major battles.
>> It's got to be known to the younger ones.
You have to remember who was there.
The fellow men, some of who got through okay, but who were brave enough
to stick around and finish it out.
>> You can read more about this American hero in a new book by Edward McGrath and Craig Thompson.
It's available online at ussaz.org.