LAWRENCE R. RODRIGGS
1932-2003Author and lecturer
witnessed attack
on Pearl HarborMore obituaries
Lawrence R. Rodriggs, who witnessed the Pearl Harbor attack as a boy and devoted much of his life to publicizing civilian accounts of that devastating day, died on May 14 in his Newark, Calif., home. He was 70.
"Larry had played an integral part helping me ... with telling the civilian story and making sure that part of the story is not forgotten," said Daniel Martinez, National Park Service chief historian at the Arizona Memorial.
In 1991, Rodriggs completed the book "We Remember Pearl Harbor," a collection of 50 civilian stories including his own.
"This is the only book solely devoted to the civilian experience on Dec. 7, 1941," Martinez said.
Rodriggs frequently visited the Arizona Memorial, lecturing, signing his book and sharing stories with visitors.
"His loss is significant because Larry had so much he didn't put in the book that was part of his records and recollections," Martinez said, adding that Rodriggs had been gathering stories since he was a young man.
Rodriggs was a 9-year-old heading to church on Dec. 7, 1941, when he saw hundreds of Japanese planes flying overhead.
He believed that Oahu residents suffered greatly, "not only with the casualties, but just the overwhelming terror of what the next day might bring," Martinez said.
Rodriggs related how his father, a deliveryman whose vehicle was used to carry war casualties, became emotionally withdrawn after witnessing the carnage of the attack.
He had hoped the state would one day award a medal to all Oahu civilians who witnessed the attack for their help in defense and rendering aid, similar to the medal awarded to military survivors.
Born Dec. 27, 1932, in Wailuku, Rodriggs graduated from Saint Louis College (high school) in 1950. He worked two years at Pearl Harbor, served a short stint with the Naval Reserve, then earned a public relations degree in 1958 from San Jose State University. He worked 30 years in public relations with Blue Cross of California.
Rodriggs is survived by wife Jean, sons Steven and Michael, brother Bill and six grandchildren.
Services are tomorrow at 4 p.m. at St. Edward's Catholic Church in Newark, Calif.