Bill Halleran, Pearl Harbor survivor, dies

Until his last hours, Bill Halleran, a survivor of the devastating Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor, worked to keep alive the memory of one of history's most pivotal moments.

But not long before he was to participate in a ceremony last week commemorating the 70th anniversary of the attack, Halleran, 93, suffered a stroke and never recovered, according to his son, Scott Halleran.

He died Friday morning at Nassau University Medical Center, his son said.

Halleran, who was aboard the cruiser Phoenix the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, had a clear view of the sinking of the battleship Arizona.

"I was with the executive officer when I heard the first explosion," the North Merrick resident told Newsday last week. "I said, 'Hell, this is the real thing. We're at war.' "

Halleran said he raced to prepare for battle and had no time to find his brother, Charlie, a fellow crew member stationed near the bow. His brother, who also survived the attack, died three years ago.

Years later, Halleran became determined that the United States should never forget the surprise attack and helped organize a Long Island chapter of a Pearl Harbor survivors organization. He said last week he was one of only three members left.

The Navy gave Halleran a chance to see the world and find work when he enlisted in 1939. He had grown up with three brothers in Floral Park when it was mostly farmland.

He didn't speak much about the war until his grown children prodded him later in life. He never understood why he was so lucky to be on a ship that survived the Japanese attack when so many others died that day, Scott Halleran said.

Later in the war, his ship supported troops landing on islands in the South Pacific, searched for Japanese ships and fought off kamikaze attacks.

After Japan surrendered in 1945, he was discharged as a yeoman second class.

SEE PHOTOSNotable deaths: Long Islanders we recently lost

When he returned to Long Island, he was introduced to Rose Marie, the woman with whom he celebrated a 65th wedding anniversary last month. They hit it off with good conversation, she recalled yesterday, thinking at the time, "He looks pretty good. I'd like to see him again."

They married in 1946 and after first living in Brooklyn, moved to North Merrick, where they raised three boys.

He worked at the Kelly Brothers International Harvester dealership in Freeport as a parts manager and later supervised mechanics at a maintenance garage in the Town of Hempstead.

Halleran, who remained vigorous until his last days, was involved in local Veterans of Foreign War and American Legion activities, and had been a member of the North Merrick Fire Department.

Survivors include two other sons, Bill of Riverside, Iowa, and Frank of North Merrick; a brother, David, of Sunland, Calif.; eight grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

SEE PHOTOSRecent notable deaths

Wakes will be held at Walker Funeral Home in Merrick Sunday from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m.

The funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday at Merrick United Methodist Church. Burial will be at Calverton National Cemetery.