GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM Jeff Chapman, son of deceased Pearl Harbor survivor Noel Chapman, held a plaque presented to him and his sister, Beth Chapman, following ceremonies at the Arizona Memorial yesterday.

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Brothers reunited

Noel Chapman's remains
join his brother's within
the sunken USS Arizona

Noel Chapman enlisted in the Navy to join his brother Naaman on the USS Arizona in March 1941, but lost him on Dec. 7 when a Japanese bomb struck the battleship.

Chapman survived the Pearl Harbor attack and died Feb. 29 at the age of 83.

After 63 years, Chapman was reunited yesterday with his brother in Pearl Harbor.

The brothers are one of the last of 37 sets of brothers who served on the Arizona on that infamous day. The bodies of 945 sailors were never recovered and remain entombed on the ship.

On this Dec. 7, the sun shone on the tranquil waters of Pearl Harbor as Noel Chapman was given a 21-gun salute.

Naaman Chapman was believed to have been killed instantly when the Arizona was bombed. His body was never recovered.

Noel Chapman was on the deck of the Arizona on lookout at the time of the attack, son Jeff Chapman said.

"He said he jumped off the ship," he said. "People from our hometown say he was blown off.

"Dad would have been too proud a man to admit he had been blown off the ship," he said. "It would have meant defeat."

Chapman's children, grandchildren, friends, Pearl Harbor survivors and military members witnessed the moving ceremony yesterday afternoon.

"He'd think it was a wonderful ceremony and would be honored so many military guests showed," said Jeff Chapman.

An urn containing his ashes was presented to a dive team. Divers placed it underwater in Gun Turret 4, near the stern of the ship.

Chapman and his sister Beth were each presented with an American flag and a plaque honoring their father. They left roses and orchids in memory of their father and uncle.

About a year ago, their father told them of his wishes to have his remains brought to the Arizona.

"He said, 'It would be an honor to be interred with the ship,' " said Jeff Chapman.

Chapman, a businessman who dealt in dry edible beans, lived his remaining years in Mitchell, Neb., where he grew up.

Noel Chapman first returned to Pearl Harbor in 1986 with a tour group.

Beth Chapman recalls her mother saying that her father had told her if the tour bus was leaving, it could leave without him.

"He wanted to spend some time," she said.