Two Pearl Harbor Survivors, Aged 104 and 102, Visit Hawaii to Commemorate Victims of the 1941 Attack

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii—Ira “Ike” Schab, at 104 years old, is a Pearl Harbor attack survivor who was resolute in his desire to stand and salute during a remembrance ceremony for those who lost their lives in the Japanese bombing that propelled the United States into World War II 83 years ago. He dedicated six weeks to physical therapy to gain the strength needed for this tribute.

On Saturday, Schab carefully stood up from his wheelchair, raising his right hand in salute as sailors on a destroyer and a submarine passed by in the harbor. His son and daughter provided support on either side.

“I felt honored to do it. I’m grateful I could stand up,” he reflected afterward. “I’m getting old, you know.”

Schab is one of just two servicemen who survived the attack and were present at the annual observance hosted by the U.S. Navy and National Park Service on a grassy area overlooking the harbor. A third survivor was scheduled to attend but had to withdraw due to health concerns.

The attack on December 7, 1941, resulted in the deaths of over 2,300 U.S. servicemen. Among these, nearly half, specifically 1,177, were sailors and Marines aboard the USS Arizona, which sank during the raid. The remains of more than 900 crew members from the Arizona are still interred within the sunken ship.

Once, dozens of survivors attended the event, but their numbers have dwindled as the years have gone by. Currently, only 16 survivors remain, according to a record kept by Kathleen Farley, California state chair of the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors. Military historian J. Michael Wenger has estimated that roughly 87,000 military personnel were stationed on Oahu on the day of the attack.

This year, Schab agreed to salute on behalf of all survivors and World War II veterans when the ceremony organizers approached him.

“He’s been training hard because this was his aspiration,” said his daughter, Kimberlee Heinrichs, who accompanied Schab from their home in Beaverton, Oregon. “He wanted to stand for that moment.”

At the time of the attack, Schab served as a sailor on the USS Dobbin, where he played the tuba in the ship’s band. After showering and donning a clean uniform, he responded to the call for a fire rescue team.

He rushed topside to witness the Japanese aircraft flying overhead and the USS Utah capsizing. He quickly returned below deck, joining a chain of sailors passing shells to an anti-aircraft gun stationed above.

Joining Schab at the ceremony was 102-year-old Ken Stevens, who served on the USS Whitney. Bob Fernandez, a 100-year-old sailor from the USS Curtiss, was unable to attend due to health reasons.

During the observance, attendees honored a moment of silence at 7:54 a.m., the exact time of the attack from 80 years ago. Shortly after, F-22 jets flew over in a missing man formation.

Fernandez, speaking via phone from California, shared his shock and disbelief as the attack unfolded.

“When those explosions occurred, we were completely unaware of what was happening,” Fernandez recalled. “We didn’t even realize we were at war.”

Serving as a mess cook on the Curtiss, Fernandez was tasked with serving coffee and food as he took care of the sailors during breakfast when the alarms sounded. Through a porthole, he spotted a plane adorned with the red ball insignia of the Japanese aircraft.

He quickly descended three decks to a magazine room, where he and fellow sailors awaited someone to unlock a door holding 5-inch, 38-caliber shells, enabling them to arm the ship’s guns.

In interviews throughout the years, he recounted that many sailors were praying and crying as they heard the gunfire overhead.

“I felt quite scared because I had no idea what was going on,” Fernandez admitted.

The ship’s guns managed to hit one of the Japanese planes that crashed into one of the cranes. Shortly afterward, the guns struck a dive bomber, which then crashed into the ship, resulting in an explosion below deck and igniting fires on the hangar and main decks, according to the Navy History and Heritage Command.

The Curtiss lost 21 crew members, with nearly 60 sailors wounded during the assault.

While many regard Pearl Harbor survivors as heroes, Fernandez humbly disagrees.

“I’m not a hero,” he stated. “I’m just a mere ammunition passer.”

By Audrey Mcavoy