Pearl Harbor survivor, WWII vet dies

PENSACOLA, Fla. (WALA) - Many of those closest to former Lt. George Mills’ knew him as a man full of life with a dry sense of humor.

Mills’ was one of few remaining Pearl Harbor survivors. He died just three weeks after the 71 ^st anniversary of the Japanese attack that killed more than 2,000 Americans.

“He was very warm. He just wanted to live in the present. If there was a parade to be in, George wanted to be there. If there was a classroom to talk to, he wanted to talk to the kids,” said Liz Watkins, a close friend of Mills.

Mills’ was just 21-years-old while serving upon the USS Argonne. He was at his desk when the bombing began.

“We could oversee all the planes coming in and dropping their torpedoes. The torpedoes went right into the battle wagons and the battle wagons were sinking,” Mills said during a recent Pearl Harbor survivor reunion.

Mills and his close friend Holly Shelton organized a return to Pearl Harbor in 2011 for other survivors to have "One Last Goodbye".

Liz Watkins’ became friends with Mills while filming her documentary on the event.

“I think it gave him closure. They became men that day on December 7, 1941. 70 years later, standing in the same spots they were in, each man could find what they needed,” said Watkins.

Mills and the other six Pearl Harbor survivors came together in early December 2012 for the premiere of Watkins' documentary at Trader Johns, a familiar local establishment for many WWII veterans.

It would be one of the last times all the men would be together before Mills’ death.

“I expected it, but when I walked into the room and saw he wasn’t breathing, I thought we've just lost another from the greatest generation,” Watkins said.

Watkins said Mills’ wife, Roni, also a Pearl Harbor survivor, died 10 years ago.

“I’m very saddened that George is gone, but it was time. He was 92 and suffering. He’s with his Roni,” said Watkins.

Mills served seven years in the Navy and spent 30 years in the Civil Service.

Mills will be buried beside his wife Roni at Barrancas Nation Cemetary aboard NAS Pensacola. He will receive full military honors.