Draft:Warren Upton
| Submission declined on 29 December 2024 by DoubleGrazing (talk). This submission's references do not show that the subject qualifies for a Wikipedia article—that is, they do not show significant coverage (not just passing mentions) about the subject in published, reliable, secondary sources that are independent of the subject (see the guidelines on the notability of people). Before any resubmission, additional references meeting these criteria should be added (see technical help and learn about mistakes to avoid when addressing this issue). If no additional references exist, the subject is not suitable for Wikipedia. The content of this submission includes material that does not meet Wikipedia's minimum standard for inline citations. Please cite your sources using footnotes. For instructions on how to do this, please see Referencing for beginners. Thank you.
Where to get help
How to improve a draft
You can also browse Wikipedia:Featured articles and Wikipedia:Good articles to find examples of Wikipedia's best writing on topics similar to your proposed article. Improving your odds of a speedy review To improve your odds of a faster review, tag your draft with relevant WikiProject tags using the button below. This will let reviewers know a new draft has been submitted in their area of interest. For instance, if you wrote about a female astronomer, you would want to add the Biography, Astronomy, and Women scientists tags. Editor resources
|  |
Warren "Red" Upton | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 17, 1919 El Dorado, California, U.S. |
| Died | December 25, 2024 (aged 105) Los Gatos, California, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Navy radioman |
| Known for | Oldest living survivor of the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor |
| Spouse | Valeria Gene Parker (deceased 2018) |
| Children | 5 |
Warren “Red” Upton (October 17, 1919 – December 25, 2024) was a World War II United States Navy veteran and the oldest living survivor of the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. He served as a radioman aboard the battleship USS Utah and later participated in the Korean War.
Early Life
[edit]Upton was born on October 17, 1919, in El Dorado, California. He earned the nickname "Red" for his thick, natural red hair. Upton enlisted in the United States Navy before the outbreak of World War II and served aboard the USS Utah.
Pearl Harbor Attack
[edit]On December 7, 1941, Upton was aboard the USS Utah when the ship was attacked and sunk during the Pearl Harbor attack. At the time, Upton was 22 years old and shaving when the first torpedo struck the ship. After a second torpedo caused the ship to capsize, Upton escaped, swam toward Ford Island, and assisted a fellow sailor who could not swim. He then sheltered in a ditch before being transported to safety.
The USS Utah suffered the loss of 58 crew members, while Upton and 460 others survived.
Military Service
[edit]Upton continued to serve as a radioman throughout World War II and also participated in the Korean War. During his naval service, he converted to Catholicism.
Post-War Life
[edit]After World War II, Upton returned to California, where he became the secretary of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Chapter 7 in San Jose. He was responsible for organizing meetings and reporting the deaths of survivors in his chapter. Upton married Valeria Gene Parker, a former Navy nurse, and together they raised five children in the San Francisco Bay Area. His wife passed away in 2018 at the age of 97.
Later Years
[edit]Upton remained active in commemorative events, including a return visit to Hawaii in 2019 to attend a remembrance ceremony at the USS Utah Memorial. He was known for his humility, often stating that the true heroes of Pearl Harbor were those who never made it home.
Upton passed away on December 25, 2024, in Los Gatos, California, from complications of pneumonia. His final wishes were to be buried beside his wife rather than interred within the USS Utah wreckage.
Legacy
[edit]Upton’s death marks the decline of the World War II "Greatest Generation," as only a small fraction of the 16.4 million Americans who served are still alive. He is survived by his five children and several grandchildren.
References
[edit]- Fatahi, Kia (December 28, 2024). "Warren 'Red' Upton, oldest living Pearl Harbor survivor, dies at 105". CNN. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
Category:1919 births Category:2024 deaths Category:People from El Dorado, California Category:United States Navy personnel of World War II Category:United States Navy personnel of the Korean War Category:Pearl Harbor survivors Category:American Roman Catholics Category:Military personnel from California Category:World War II veterans