World’s Oldest Pearl Harbor Survivor Dies At 106

Vaughn P. Drake Jr., one of the oldest survivors of the December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor attack, passed away on April 7, 2025, at the age of 106. At just 23 years old, Drake was an Army engineer at the Kaneohe Naval Air Station in Hawaii when Japanese forces launched their surprise attack.

“We thought it was a drill at first,” Drake recalled in a 2016 interview. “Then we saw the bombs and the smoke. We knew it was real.” His experience on that day would shape the course of history, as the attack led the U.S. into World War II.

A Life of Service and Humility

Following the attack, Drake served in key battles across the Pacific, including the Battle of Saipan. He received numerous military honors, such as the World War II Victory Medal and a special Congressional Medal for Pearl Harbor veterans. Despite his heroism, Drake remained humble, preferring to live a quiet life and never seeking public attention.

A Devoted Family Man

Drake’s legacy extends beyond his military service. He was a loving husband to Lina Wilson Drake, with whom he shared 65 years of marriage, and a dedicated father and grandfather. His son, Samuel, described him as a man of integrity who “lived with honor every single day.”

A Quiet Retirement in Kentucky

After the war, Drake returned to Kentucky, where he worked as an engineer for over 50 years. He retired from General Telephone Company in 1981 but continued to live a simple life, grounded in his values and community.

Remembering a Hero

Drake’s passing marks the loss of one of the few remaining survivors of Pearl Harbor. He will be buried with full military honors at Winchester Cemetery in Kentucky, where his family and community will remember him not just as a hero, but as a man who lived with humility and grace.