Pearl Harbor Survivor, 101, To Revisit Hawaii For 80th Anniversary Of Attack After Successful Fundraiser

A 101-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor will return to Hawaii for the 80th anniversary of the attack after his daughter launched a successful crowdfunding campaign to send him there with carers.

Ira Schab, better known as ‘Ike’, was stationed on the USS Dobbin when the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service attacked on 7th December 1941, resulting in the US forces joining the Allies in World War II.

Schab said: “Our ship didn’t go down, we got three near-misses, but it didn’t go down.”

Ira Schab, a 101-year-old World War II veteran, pictured during his time in the navy, survived the attack on Pearl Harbor is raising money to return for its 80th anniversary, in Washington County, Oregon, USA, in November, 2021. (Joyeux Kimberlee/Newsflash)

Schab, who now lives in Washington County in the US state of Oregon, also escaped the attack relatively unscathed, saying: “I lucked out entirely. Yeah, I got a scratch on my knuckle and my thumb there and that was about it.”

His daughter Kimberlee Heinrichs has launched a GoFundMe page to raise enough money for her elderly dad to return to Pearl Harbor for the anniversary.

Heinrichs says on the fundraising page: “That guy you see is my 101-year-old father Ira Schab, Jr. he’s a Navy veteran and Pearl Harbor Survivor. You can call him “Ike” or “Pop”.

Ira Schab, a 101-year-old World War II veteran, pictured during his time in the navy, survived the attack on Pearl Harbor is raising money to return for its 80th anniversary, in Washington County, Oregon, USA, in November, 2021. (Newsflash)

“This year is the 80th Anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Due to COVID-19 restrictions only one attendee can be present at the ceremonies and groups that take veterans have to limit vet caregivers.

“For the ceremony Pop could be situated with one attendee or caregiver but for the travel to and from Hawaii and his daily care, he really needs two. The vet groups don’t have the funds to allow this.

“I am a registered nurse, working part time so I can care for and spend time with my father. Coordinating his care and physically caring for my Pop is something that I am deeply privileged to be able to do.

Ira Schab, a 101-year-old World War II veteran, pictured during his time in the navy, survived the attack on Pearl Harbor is raising money to return for its 80th anniversary, in Washington County, Oregon, USA, in November, 2021. (Newsflash)

“We need your help to get him to Hawaii for this momentous anniversary. Lacking organisations with bigger pockets, I can’t afford to get my Pop over there, this fundraiser will cover flights, hotel, car, food for Ike and two family caregivers to keep him safe and be honored at the Pearl Harbor Anniversary ceremonies.”

In an update on 4th November, Heinrichs said she was “overwhelmed” by the public support after the campaign reached over USD 7,500 of its USD 5,000 goal, indicating that ‘Pop’ will indeed get the opportunity to revisit Pearl Harbor next month.

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