Pearl Harbor Survivor, Grand Marshal Of Petaluma Veterans' Day Parade Dies Shortly Before Event
PETALUMA (KPIX 5) -- A Pearl Harbor survivor who was supposed to be this year's grand marshal at the Petaluma Veterans' Day Parade died shortly before the event.
Herb Louden was a regular fixture in the annual North Bay celebration honoring those in uniform. On Tuesday morning, as he sat in his Petaluma home dressed and ready to go, Louden put his head down and drew his final breath.
The parade wasn't the same, but his friend and parade organizer Steve Kemmerle said no one should be sad.
"Herb would not regret the way he went. He just literally fell asleep, at 97." Kemmerle said. "An hour before he was supposed to be at the parade."
When Pearl Harbor was attacked, Louden helped pull sailors out of the burning sea and survivors became instant icons of the moment America was forced to become a world leader. Herb's son said men like his father helped teach the country a lesson.
"To be ready for the attack, don't let your guard down. And that's something we need to do is be careful, be careful of our country," said Paul Louden.
But Herb was haunted by his experience, until his wife Evie encouraged him to become a chaplain for the survivors' organization.
"And so he did look them up and joined and it was just the best thing for him to do," Evie Louden said.
Herb Louden is set to be buried on Saturday, November 29th, with full military honors.
