The community of World War II veterans has grown smaller with the passing of Ira "Ike" Schab, a direct survivor of the infamous Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. Schab died at the remarkable age of 105, his daughter Kimberlee Heinrichs confirmed to The Associated Press. He passed away early Saturday at his home in Beaverton, Oregon, with his daughter and her husband by his side.
The End of an Era: A Dwindling Brotherhood
With Schab's death, the number of living survivors from the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor is now estimated to be only about a dozen. The assault on December 7, 1941, resulted in the deaths of just over 2,400 US troops and served as the catalyst that propelled the United States into World War II. For decades, Schab, like many of his comrades, seldom spoke about the traumatic events of that day. However, in his later years, he felt a profound duty to keep the memory alive.
Aware that his generation was fading, the centenarian made it a mission to travel from Oregon to Hawaii for the annual remembrance ceremony at the historic military base. His reason was simple and powerful: "To pay honour to the guys that didn't make it," he stated in 2023. The journey required immense effort; for the previous year's commemoration, he spent weeks building his strength just to be able to stand and offer a salute. This year, however, he was not well enough to attend, and he passed away less than three weeks later.
A Sailor's Story: From Peaceful Morning to Battle Station
Born on Independence Day, 1920, in Chicago, Ira Schab was the eldest of three brothers. Following his father's path, he enlisted in the US Navy at the age of 18. By December 1941, he was a 21-year-old sailor serving aboard the USS Dobbin, where he played the tuba in the ship's band.
That fateful Sunday began as a peaceful one. Schab was anticipating a visit from his brother, who was stationed at a nearby naval radio station. After showering and putting on a clean uniform, the calm was shattered by a call for fire rescue. Rushing topside, he witnessed the horrifying sight of the USS Utah capsizing and Japanese aircraft roaring through the skies. "We were pretty startled. Startled and scared to death," he recalled in a 2023 interview. "We didn't know what to expect, and we knew that if anything happened to us, that would be it."
Springing into action, Schab scrambled below deck to retrieve ammunition boxes. He then joined a daisy chain of sailors desperately feeding shells to an anti-aircraft gun on the deck above. The USS Dobbin lost three men that day: one killed in action and two who later succumbed to wounds from a bomb that struck the ship's stern. All three had been manning an anti-aircraft gun.
A Life of Service Beyond the War
Schab continued serving in the Navy throughout the war in the Pacific, with postings in the New Hebrides (now Vanuatu), the Mariana Islands, and Okinawa. After the war, he channeled his discipline into education, studying aerospace engineering. He later worked as an electrical engineer for General Dynamics on the monumental Apollo spaceflight program, contributing to the mission that sent astronauts to the moon.
The tradition of service continued in his family, with his son also joining the Navy and retiring as a commander. In a 2022 ceremony, Schab's message was one of remembrance and honour. He urged people to recall the sacrifice of those who served at Pearl Harbor: "Remember what they're here for. Remember and honour those that are left. They did a hell of a job. Those who are still here, dead or alive."
The passing of Ira "Ike" Schab marks not just the loss of a centenarian, but the fading of a living connection to one of the most pivotal moments in modern world history. His life story, from the terror of Pearl Harbor to the triumph of the Apollo missions, encapsulates a century of American resilience and innovation.
