WWII Nurse Donates Husband’s Pearl Harbor Bullet to Honor Fallen
Image sources: Holland America, jointbasephh
Former World War II nurse Alice Beck Darrow, age 106, has made a poignant contribution to history by donating the bullet that once rested in her husband's heart to the Pearl Harbor National Memorial Museum. Her story intertwines love, service, and the legacy of wartime nurses.
How a Bullet Forged a Love Story
Alice Beck Darrow, a San Luis Obispo-born Navy nurse, first met her future husband Dean Darrow in 1942 while caring for him at Mare Island Naval Hospital. Dean had survived the December 7, 1941, attack on the USS West Virginia at Pearl Harbor, only to discover months later that a Japanese bullet remained lodged in his heart.
Just before his risky surgery, Dean asked Alice, “If I make it through, will you go out with me?” She agreed, and after he survived, the pair kept their promise, eventually marrying and raising four children.
A Cherished Keepsake, Finally Returned
For nearly five decades of marriage and over thirty years after Dean’s passing in 1991, Alice kept the bullet as a deeply cherished object, one that symbolized both survival and the unexpected ways nurses change lives.
“I’ve held onto this bullet for so long because it meant everything to us,” Alice explained. “But I know it belongs in a place where others can understand what it represents — not just for Dean and me, but for all who served and sacrificed.”
For decades after her military service, Alice remained active in the nursing and veterans’ communities around California, participating in memorial events and staying “sharp as a tack,” according to close friends and family.
Image source: Holland America
An Emotional Homecoming at Pearl Harbor
On September 18, 2025, Alice, accompanied by her daughter and son-in-law, stepped off Holland America’s Westerdam and personally donated the bullet to the museum. The moment, she said, was “deeply emotional.”
Alice said, “Holding onto the bullet all these years meant a great deal, but it truly belongs to those who served and sacrifice, and to all who can understand its significance, not just to Dean and me. I knew it was the right decision.”
Alice’s dedication was recognized by the museum and the Navy, whose team helped receive the artifact. Mikael Fox, the museum technician who accepted the bullet, echoed the sentiment: “We are honored to receive this piece of history.”
Navy Damage Controlman 3rd Class Paul Esposito was struck by Alice’s strength: “The heart that she has to have to be able to pass down something that she cherishes so much is a big deal. And it shows the respect and appreciation that she has for the Navy.”
Image source: Holland America
Legacy and Reflection
Among the many lessons Alice shared, her story stands as both a tender love story and a lesson for younger generations. “This is the right place for it to be, where it can be displayed, and other boys can see it. Youngsters can see it, and realize what war is like,” Alice told reporters at the event.
Reflecting on her journey and her husband’s Navy career, Alice said, “I think Dean would feel that returning the bullet to Pearl Harbor is the right thing to do. It honors so many, and I know he would agree it's the right place for it”.
For nurses everywhere, Alice’s story stands as a tribute to compassion, resilience, and the quiet heroism of those who serve both in war and peace.
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