World War II Navy veteran Ira "Ike" Schab, one of the last living witnesses to the 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, died peacefully at his home in Beaverton, Oregon, on Saturday, December 20, 2025. He was 105 years old. His daughter, Kimberlee Heinrichs, confirmed to The Associated Press that Schab passed away in the company of her and her husband, with swing music playing in the background. His passing marks the end of an era, leaving only about a dozen survivors from the infamous attack that propelled the United States into World War II.
Born on July 4, 1920, in Chicago, Schab was the eldest of three brothers. He joined the Navy at 18, following in the footsteps of his father. As a young sailor, Schab was stationed aboard the USS Dobbin as a tuba player in the ship’s band. On the morning of December 7, 1941—a day that would live in infamy—he was expecting a visit from his brother, who was serving at a nearby naval radio station. What began as a peaceful Sunday quickly turned into chaos as Japanese planes descended on Pearl Harbor.
"We were pretty startled. Startled and scared to death," Schab recalled in 2023, as reported by CNN. "We didn’t know what to expect, and we knew that if anything happened to us, that would be it." When the attack began, Schab had just showered and put on a clean uniform. He heard a call for fire rescue, rushed topside, and witnessed the USS Utah capsizing as Japanese aircraft roared overhead. Without hesitation, he returned below deck to help pass boxes of ammunition up to a daisy chain of sailors feeding shells to an antiaircraft gun.
The USS Dobbin, Schab’s ship, lost three sailors that day—one killed in action and two more who died later from fragment wounds caused by a bomb striking the stern. All three had been manning an antiaircraft gun. According to Navy records, the attack on Pearl Harbor killed just over 2,400 troops, a devastating blow that galvanized the United States into joining the global conflict.
For decades after the war, Schab rarely spoke about the traumatic events he witnessed. However, as the number of survivors dwindled with each passing year, he felt a growing sense of responsibility to share his story and honor those who never made it home. In recent years, Schab traveled from his Oregon home to the annual observance at the Hawaii military base, determined to "pay honor to the guys that didn’t make it," as he put it in 2023.
Last year, Schab spent weeks building up the strength to stand and salute at the 83rd commemoration of the attack. But in 2025, his health prevented him from making the journey. Instead, he watched the ceremony via live stream from home, less than three weeks before his death. The USS Arizona Memorial, which commemorates those lost during the attack, noted that Schab "passed peacefully while listening to swing music, with his family by his side." The Associated Press contributed reporting on his passing.
Schab’s service during World War II extended far beyond Pearl Harbor. He spent most of the war in the Pacific theater, serving in places such as the New Hebrides (now Vanuatu), the Mariana Islands, and Okinawa, Japan. After the war ended, Schab channeled his energy and intellect into aerospace engineering, studying the subject and eventually working as an electrical engineer for General Dynamics. His contributions helped send astronauts to the moon as part of the Apollo spaceflight program—a remarkable second act for someone whose life had already intersected with history in such a profound way.
Military service ran deep in the Schab family. His son later joined the Navy as well, retiring as a commander. In a 2022 ceremony at Pearl Harbor, Schab addressed those gathered, urging them to remember and honor everyone who served during the attack. "Remember what they’re here for. Remember and honor those that are left. They did a hell of a job," he said. "Those who are still here, dead or alive." His words resonated with attendees, serving as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made during one of the darkest days in American history.
Throughout his long life, Schab remained humble about his role in the war. He rarely sought the spotlight, preferring instead to honor his fallen comrades and encourage others to do the same. His annual pilgrimages to Pearl Harbor became a personal mission, especially as the number of survivors continued to dwindle. According to The Guardian, Schab emphasized the importance of these journeys, explaining that he attended "to pay honor to the guys that didn’t make it." Even as his health declined, his commitment to remembrance never wavered.
Schab’s story is emblematic of a generation that faced unimaginable challenges with courage and resilience. The attack on Pearl Harbor not only changed the course of his life but also altered the trajectory of the entire nation. The events of December 7, 1941, led directly to the United States’ entry into World War II, a conflict that would ultimately reshape the world order. The loss of more than 2,400 American lives in a single morning remains a sobering reminder of the costs of war.
With Schab’s passing, the living memory of Pearl Harbor grows ever more fragile. Only about a dozen survivors remain, each carrying stories that are both deeply personal and historically significant. Their presence at annual commemorations serves as a living link to the past—a reminder of the bravery, sacrifice, and resilience that defined a generation.
As the nation reflects on Schab’s life and legacy, his own words at the 2022 ceremony echo across the years: "They did a hell of a job." It’s a simple, heartfelt tribute to those who stood together in the face of overwhelming odds, and a call to future generations to remember what was sacrificed so that others might live in freedom.
Schab’s journey from a young sailor caught in the chaos of Pearl Harbor to an engineer helping send astronauts to the moon is a testament to the enduring spirit of service. His commitment to honoring the past, even as he quietly shaped the future, leaves a legacy that will not soon be forgotten. As the sun sets on the generation that witnessed Pearl Harbor firsthand, the responsibility to remember—and to honor—falls to all of us.
