In Honolulu, Pearl Harbor survivors Ken Stevens and Ira “Ike” Schab attended the 83rd Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day ceremony, honoring those who lost their lives in the 1941 Japanese bombing that led to the U.S. entering World War II. Schab, a 104-year-old survivor, underwent six weeks of physical therapy to build up the strength to stand and salute during the ceremony. He was joined by his son and daughter as he saluted sailors passing by in the harbor.
Schab, a former sailor on the USS Dobbin, recounted his experience during the attack when he saw Japanese planes flying overhead and the USS Utah capsizing. He quickly joined a group of sailors to feed shells to an anti-aircraft gun. Another survivor, Stevens, who served on the USS Whitney, also attended the event, while Bob Fernandez of the USS Curtiss was unable to join due to health issues.
The survivors’ attendance has declined over the years as they have aged, with only 16 still living. Fernandez, now 100 years old, recalled feeling scared and surprised during the attack, where he and his fellow sailors worked to pass ammunition to the ship’s guns amidst the chaos. Fernandez lost 21 crew members and had almost 60 others injured during the attack.
Despite being hailed as heroes by many, Fernandez remains humble, stating that he is just an ammunition passer. The ceremony included a moment of silence at the exact time the attack began, followed by a flyover of F-22 jets in a missing man formation to honor those lost in the attack. The survivors’ presence serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made during that fateful day in history.
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