Pictured, from left, are Gisel Juarez, Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert and J.J. Kralis.

WARSAW — Survivor of the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor, Ray Emory, 95, awarded Warsaw Community Schools’ students J.J. Kralis and Gisel Juarez, Leesburg Elementary; and Zoe Bergan, Washington Elementary, for their historical essays detailing Pearl Harbor.

From left, are Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert and Zoe Bergan.

Emory was born in Peoria, Ill., and was stationed aboard the USS Honolulu during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Surviving the attack, he went on to serve honorably in multiple engagements in the South Pacific during WWII. After the war, he worked as a civilian for Boeing Industry. He retired to Honolulu, where he began his quest to identify the “unknown” graves of those who died at Pearl Harbor.

His dedicated work has enabled remains of the former “unknowns” to be named through military documents and DNA testing. These identified soldiers were able to be returned home to families almost 75 years after the Day of Infamy.

Emory was able to speak with numerous sixth grade students throughout the year and his story has become well-known throughout Warsaw Community Schools.

WCS students were invited to research Pearl Harbor and the “unknowns” and craft an essay on the subject. Three essay winners were selected from these submissions and were awarded a cash prize and certificate by Dr. David Hoffert, superintendent of Warsaw Community Schools.