Wetzel Sanders (center) was believed to be the oldest surviving West Virginian soldier from the attack on Pearl Harbor | Image by Lisa Ferdinando

West Virginia’s hills and hollers produce amazing people. Lincoln County resident Wetzel "Sundown" Sanders, possibly the last surviving West Virginia survivor of the Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, died recently at age 96. 

Sanders was assigned to an anti-aircraft post at Pearl Harbor. He drove a truck filled with soldiers to join in the defense of a Navy base and was wounded as his machine gun crew shot down a Japanese fighter plane. 

READ ON: Gov. Justice issues statement on death of Pearl Harbor survivor Wetzel "Sundown" Sanders

IMAGE: Photograph by Lisa Ferdinando from U.S. Department of Defense story "Pearl Harbor Survivors Honor Fallen USS Nevada Crew"