Jessie Mahaffey, a survivor of the Pearl Harbor attack and one of the last living Navy veterans who experienced this historic event, died on March 1 at the age of 102. His passing was confirmed by his grandson, John Mahaffey. During the attack on December 7, 1941, Mahaffey was scrubbing the deck of the U.S.S. Oklahoma when it was torpedoed. Remarkably, a change in assignment just weeks prior saved his life. Following the capsizing of the Oklahoma, he swam to safety aboard the U.S.S. Maryland. He shared details of these experiences only when asked by family.
Jessie Mahaffey, who was scrubbing the deck of the U.S.S. Oklahoma when it was hit by Japanese torpedoes at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, has passed away at 102. His grandson noted Mahaffey only spoke about his Navy experiences when prompted by family.
A month prior to the attack, Jessie Mahaffey received a new assignment that moved him from dangerous storage near munitions to a safer deck position. This change ultimately saved his life.
Mahaffey's grandson recalled how on the morning of the Pearl Harbor attack, they were enjoying a 'quiet Sunday' until everything changed dramatically due to the Japanese attack.
After the sinking of the U.S.S. Oklahoma, Mahaffey swam to the U.S.S. Maryland, surviving an ordeal that took the lives of many sailors that day.
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