Lou Conter was a 20-year-old quartermaster who helped rescue fellow sailors on Dec 7, 1941, after the US’ Pacific fleet came under surprise attack.

The assault, which catapulted the US into World War II, damaged or destroyed most of the fleet stationed at the Hawaii naval base and resulted in the deaths of more than 2,000 Americans.

Over 1,100 people aboard the USS Arizona died; many of them are still entombed on the sunken ship.

“This is a heartbreaking loss,” said Aileen Utterdyke, president and CEO of Pacific Historic Parks, a non-profit that honors those who died in the attack.

“Lou Conter epitomised what it meant to be a member of the Greatest Generation, Americans whose collective courage, accomplishments and sacrifices saved our country from tyranny.

“He had an exemplary career in the Navy and was steadfast in imploring the schools, parents and everyday Americans to always remember Pearl Harbor.”

Conter went on to be a pilot later in World War II, and was shot down twice, including off the coast of New Guinea where he and his crew landed in shark-infested waters.

As an intelligence officer, he flew combat missions in Korea and created the Navy’s first SERE (survival, evasion, resistance and escape) program.

He was a military adviser to Presidents Dwight Eisenhower, John F Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson.

Pacific Historic Parks said on its Facebook page that Conter died on Monday at his home in Grass Valley, California, surrounded by family.