Pearl Harbor Survivor ‘Ira Schab’ Pays Tribute to Fallen Comrades

• Ike Schab, 103, last Navy Band 13 survivor, at 82nd Pearl Harbor commemoration.
• Despite health scare, he’s determined to honor fallen comrades.
• USS Dobbin veteran emphasizes duty in preserving history.

In a poignant return to the site of the infamous Pearl Harbor attack, 103-year-old Navy veteran Ira “Ike” Schab, the last surviving member of Navy Band 13, landed in Honolulu on Sunday to participate in the 82nd commemoration of the tragic event.

Greeted with applause upon his arrival from Portland, Schab is expected to join just a handful of survivors at a ceremony dedicated to honoring the more than 2,300 servicemen who lost their lives on that fateful day.

Despite battling illness earlier in the year, Schab was determined to make the journey back to Pearl Harbor, showcasing an unwavering commitment to paying homage to his fallen comrades. “There’s a certain feeling of comfort and at the same time obligation. That’s a good word,” Schab expressed. “I owe them. Just like that.”

Schab, a Navy musician stationed aboard the USS Dobbin anchored off Ford Island during the attack, vividly recalls the disbelief he felt as the bombing of Battleship Row unfolded. “I couldn’t believe it was happening,” he recounted, emphasizing the lasting impact of the memories from that day, even more than eight decades later.

The trip almost didn’t happen due to Schab’s health scare earlier in the year. His daughter, Kimberlee Heinrichs, shared the tense moments, saying, “He got really sick earlier this year, almost left us, really scary.” Despite the challenges, Schab remained resolute, declaring, “Hell no! I’m going to Hawaii,” when faced with the possibility of canceling the trip.

For many years, Schab remained reticent about discussing the Pearl Harbor bombing, but as he aged, he recognized the importance of preserving the memory for future generations. “Because I think I owe it to the guys that were there that aren’t there anymore,” he explained. “Don’t forget it. Don’t forget it. Just keep it alive. It’s like a living thing.”

As the last survivor from Navy Band 13 and one of the diminishing number of servicemembers who witnessed the attack, Schab stands as a living link to one of the darkest days in America’s history. With just one crew member of the USS Arizona still living, 102-year-old Lou Conter of California, the annual commemoration ceremonies serve as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by those who served during World War II. The survivors attending this year, ranging from 97 to 103 years old, carry with them the weight of history and a solemn duty to ensure the legacy of Pearl Harbor endures.

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