At just 20-years-old U.S. Navy veteran Floyd Welch, an electrician’s mate stationed aboard the USS Maryland, saved over 30 sailor’s lives when the Pearl Harbor attacks occurred on Dec 7, 1941, in Honolulu, Hawaii. One of the last Pearl Harbor survivors, Welch, passed away peacefully Monday, Aug 17.
“His was just a remarkable story of bravery, discipline, and dedication,” U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal said. “He lived the word ‘hero’ in his actions, not just words, and gave it real meaning. He was a hero, not just in his dedication and bravery, but also in the result of his actions, which was to save lives.”
Welch who’s job that day (According to The Hartford Courant) was to get the public address system ready for church services when the bombing began.
The USS Oklahoma was tied up next to the USS Maryland when they were hit with at least nine Japanese torpedoes, capsizing quickly with sailors trapped below deck.
Welch didn’t hesitate to immediately move into action, cutting holes in the USS Oklahoma, by utilizing blueprints to avoid cutting into a fuel void.
Welch’s combat duty was damage control and repair, according to the Courant.
With the help of other sailors, Welch helped pull survivors from the ship.
“We began the long and extremely difficult process of cutting holes through the bottom steel plates of the Oklahoma,” he wrote in a remembrance of the battle. “When we could see the planes coming, we would try to find cover. We would cut near where we heard the trapped crewmen tapping. In all, I believe 33 men from the Oklahoma were rescued through these holes.”
Floyd served on USS the Maryland for the entirety of the war, earning numerous honors; including the American Defence Service Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three stars, the Good Conduct Medal, and the United States Navy Constitution Medal.
When he retired from service, he worked as an alarm installer, a farmer, and a milkman before opening a construction company, Welch & Son, which built road infrastructures, foundations, and drainage systems throughout New England.
Welch is survived by his wife, Marjorie, six children, 13 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren. His family will be holding a private graveside service for him.
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