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Eight local residents were killed during the attack at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941:
• Brinley Varchol, 25, of Steel Street, Hanover Township, graduated from Hanover Township High School in 1936 and enlisted in the U.S. Navy on Sept. 3, 1936. Gunner’s Mate Second Class on the USS Arizona, where he was active on the battleship’s sports teams and was a regular player on the baseball team.
• Albert Joseph Konnick, 25, of Auburn Street, Wilkes-Barre, graduate of Coughlin High School, enlisted in the U.S. Navy on Jan. 14, 1936. He was a Carpenter’s Mate Third Class on the USS Arizona.
• Keith Jeffries, 23, of Sharpe Street, Newport Township. He was a graduate of Newport Township High School, enlisted in the U.S. Navy on Dec. 12, 1939. Jeffries was a coxswain on the USS Arizona.
• John Peter Rutkowski, 23, of Hanover Street, Nanticoke, left Nanticoke High School in his junior year to work at the General Cigar Company. Enlisted in the U.S. Navy Oct. 16, 1940. He was a Seaman First Class on the USS Arizona.
• John Joseph Petyak, 21, of Anthracite Street, Wilkes-Barre, graduated from GAR High School and enlisted in the U.S. Navy on Oct. 1, 1940. He was a Seaman First Class on the USS Arizona.
• John Edward Burns, 25, of Corlear Street, Wilkes-Barre. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on Oct. 9, 1940, and served as a Fireman First Class on the USS Arizona.
• Edward Slapikas, 26, of Wanamie, attended Newport Township schools. He was a Seaman First Class on the USS Oklahoma. Slapikas’ remains were identified in 2017 and returned home. He was buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Wanamie in June 2018.
• Joseph J. Resuskey, 41, of Jenkins Township, served 20 years in the U.S. Navy. He was a Chief Boatswains Mate.
