Pearl Harbor Survivor Shares Memories Ahead of Anniversary

Ken Schubring, a survivor of the Pearl Harbor attacks, joined the military at just 17. This week, the 103-year-old reflected on that fateful day, just before the anniversary of the 1941 attacks. “Everything seemed to be leaning towards it sooner or later. So there aren’t that many decisions to make,” he said during an interview with WANF-TV.

On the morning of December 7, 1941, Schubring had just concluded his guard duty when he went for breakfast. “Shortly before 8 a.m., there was an explosion that shook the bunker,” he recalled during a Veterans Day ceremony at the National World War II Museum. “Everyone ran outside.”

He vividly remembered the chaos. “The sky was full of planes and dive bombers,” he described. “I went up on deck and crawled into a nearby ditch…and stayed there until the first wave was over.” In a separate interview, Schubring told CBS News that even after all these years, the attack remains “unforgettable.”

As we approach the 84th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack, he stands out as one of only 13 survivors still alive.

His son, Ken Schubring Jr., emphasized the importance of remembering the sacrifices made that day and in the years that followed. “You can’t put a price on the sacrifice that was made that day,” he stated.

Tennessee State Senator Marsha Blackburn expressed her gratitude for being able to assist Schubring in attending a recent World War II Museum ceremony. “It was an honor to help Ken Schubring, Sr., a World War II veteran and Pearl Harbor survivor,” she posted on X. “God bless our veterans who have served our country so bravely.”

Following the Pearl Harbor incident, Schubring transitioned to becoming a flight engineer on B-29 bombers, carrying out missions in the Pacific. “We will fly directly over or around Iwo Jima toward our target,” he explained, noting that the bombing required precise navigation.

Schubring recalled the moment when he learned about Japan’s surrender. “About two hours after returning from the Osaka air raid, the radio announced that Emperor Hirohito had called for an armistice,” he said. “The war is over.”

After leaving the military, he continued his fight for justice, advocating for racially integrated schools in Athens, Georgia, where he even served as president of the school board. His son mentioned that despite facing challenges and resistance, particularly during that controversial period, his father never wavered.