La Vida Del Mar Honors San Diego’s Oldest Marine Survivor of Pearl Harbor
12-11-2019

Resident USMC Captain John Campbell, 99, was honored during a Pearl Harbor Day luncheon at La Vida Del Mar, an active retirement community.

The nonagenarian was an eye-witness to the horrors of December 7, 1941 as the Japanese attacked the Pacific fleet. There were about 50,000 service members on Oahu. Over twenty-four hundred were killed, and today, it is estimated that there are less than 2,500 Pearl Harbor survivors.

Residents, staff, family and guests joined representatives from Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton to salute Captain Campbell.

As part of a living history project (will add link) with The Naval Historical Foundation, Captain Campbell has documented the attack and the hours following the event—from the uncertainty of what was happening to not having the weaponry to defend themselves.

The luncheon was featured in numerous outlets and publications including Fox 5 San Diego, CBS-8, San Diego Union-Tribune and NBC San Diego. 

Available on a monthly fee basis, La Vida Del Mar offers independent and assisted living lifestyles. The community is located at 850 Del Mar Downs Road, one-half block north of Via De La Valle. To learn more about the community or to schedule a personal tour, please call (858) 755-1224.

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