A burial ceremony in honor of retired chief petty officer and Pearl Harbor survivor Yuell Chandler was held Oct. 10 at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
The event in the historic Punchbowl Cemetery was attended by U.S. Navy Sailors, friends and family members of Chandler, who passed away on Oct. 2 at the age of 95.
An overview of Yuell Chandler’s life was provided by Pearl Harbor Survivors Liaison, Jim Taylor, who spoke about his experiences to those in attendance.
Chandler was born April 28, 1918 in Richmond, Va, where he started off his military career by joining the U.S. Army in March 1939 and then later enlisting as a Seabee in the U.S. Navy where he retired as a chief petty officer.
“Of the ceremonies I have participated in this was the first one that I was actually participating in the burial of a fellow Seabee,” said Navy Utilitiesman 2nd Class Jeremy Orndolf, assigned to Joint Base Honors and Ceremonies. “It was an honor to be a part of this, knowing that we are saying farewell to one of our own.”
Chandler served in many battles during his service in the military including the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor in 1941 and the Battle of Iwo Jima from February to March of 1945.
While in the Navy he served in Vietnam during which he retired.
“He told the story of how he actually tripped over a box of grenades the Japanese had set for a trap, luckily none of them exploded,” said Taylor. “The family still has two of them he saved, of course they are diffused and are harmless.”
According to Taylor, Chandler found himself in another dangerous incident during his time in Iwo Jima in which he found himself sleeping on top of a buried dud explosive under his bed.
Following his time at war he became a helping hand to his shipmates. Chandler helped them obtain benefits they were to receive and provided guidance to fellow Pearl Harbor survivors on medical care and equipment.
“He helped with all the paperwork which can be very difficult, obviously he cared for his shipmates,” said Taylor.
Chandler retired during the Vietnam War in October 1962 and later volunteered at the National Park Service and the Arizona Memorial Visitor Center. There he not only visited the memorial but signed autographs and told his stories.
“The tourists loved hearing his stories, he was there at minimum three times a week,” said Taylor. “He served as a volunteer for over 28 years, leaving many wonderful memories for the visitors he talked to and even more importantly those of the National Park Service and the employees from Pacific Historic Parks.”
Aileen Utterbyke, CEO of Pacific Historic Parks, remarked about the many years Chandler spent volunteering.
“For Pacific Historic Parks, Yuell “Bob” Chandler was like family to us,” said Utterbyke. “He was very dedicated in what he did. His drive was to share his experiences with the visitors who came throughout the parks.”
At the end of the ceremony Chief Chandler received full military honors for his dedication and service including a rifle salute by the Joint Base Honors and Ceremonial Guard and the playing of Taps by a Navy bugler. His family was presented with the national ensign during a flag presentation.
More than 13,000 Soldiers and Sailors who died are laid to rest in the Punchbowl Cemetery, whose Hawaiian name, “Puowaina,” means “Hill of Sacrifice.”
[mappress] Press Release, October 23, 2013