President Trump last week signed a bill into law which named a California post office after the oldest survivor of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
The bill – H.R. 3005 – “designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 13308 Midland Road in Poway, California, as the Ray Chavez Post Office Building.”
The post office is located in a suburb where Chavez lived.
Chavez, a Navy Veteran who served aboard the USS Condor, passed away in 2018 at the age of 106 from pneumonia.
The Condor was a coastal minesweeper in Pearl Harbor believed to have made the first enemy contact with the Japanese after a periscope sighting in the water shortly before the attack.
The attack on Pearl Harbor drew the United States into World War II and killed 2,335 U.S. military personnel, wounded an additional 1,143, and killed 68 civilians.
With five Pearl Harbor survivors looking on, Pres Trump signs Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day proclamation. Invites them back for this ceremony in each of the next 7 years. pic.twitter.com/NKlt486veA
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) December 7, 2017
RELATED: Trump Meets With Oldest Surviving Pearl Harbor Veteran
President Trump Met The Oldest Survivor Of Pearl Harbor Months Before His Death
Months before Chavez passed away, President Trump met the Navy veteran in the Oval Office and had him present at a speech at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day.
“We are also proud to be in the company of another American hero — Navy veteran Ray Chavez,” the President beamed.
“At 106 years of age — and he was in the Oval Office two days ago, and he doesn’t look a day over 60 — he’s the oldest living survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor,” he added.
“What a guy. And, Ray, you are truly an inspiration to all who are here today and all of our great country,” concluded Trump.
President Trump honors WWII veteran Sen. Bob Dole and Navy veteran Ray Chavez, who is 106 years old and the oldest living survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor https://t.co/z2FP53md3A pic.twitter.com/pXJNfVMRtP
— CBS News (@CBSNews) May 28, 2018
Ray Chavez – An American Hero And Inspiration
So inspired by Chavez was the President, that he sent him a personal letter on his 105th birthday the year before.
“As the oldest living survivor of Pearl Harbor, your remarkable story is treasured by our Nation,” Trump wrote, “and the sacrifices you made in service to our country should fill you with tremendous pride.”
Pres. Trump sends letter recognizing oldest Pearl Harbor survivor Ray Chavez on his 105th birthday. “Keep going!” https://t.co/hl4Fck5wP0 pic.twitter.com/SavnS9MO6q
— ABC News (@ABC) March 16, 2017
The President ended the note with a handwritten message urging Chavez to “keep going!”
In December of 2018, Trump again remembered Chavez during a proclamation on National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
“Ray passed away only a few weeks ago at the incredible age of 106,” he said. “But his legacy is forever etched into our country’s rich history, along with the legacies of all our brave veterans.”
God bless and godspeed, Mr. Chavez.
