The 84th anniversary commemoration of the Pearl Harbor attack will proceed without the presence of any living survivors for only the second time in history, marking a poignant transition in how this historic event will be remembered. With just twelve centenarian survivors remaining from the December 7, 1941 attack, none were medically cleared to travel to Hawaii for this year’s ceremonies.
Kimberlee Heinrichs, daughter of 105-year-old veteran Ira ‘Ike’ Schab who canceled due to illness, expressed profound emotional impact: ‘The idea of not having a survivor there for the first time—I just, I don’t know—it hurt my heart in a way I can’t describe.’
The attack, which claimed over 2,400 American lives and wounded nearly 1,200 others, destroyed or damaged approximately 350 aircraft and sank four battleships while damaging more than a dozen additional vessels. President Franklin D. Roosevelt subsequently declared December 7 ‘a date which will live in infamy’ when announcing America’s entry into World War II.
Current geopolitical context adds significance to this anniversary, as many Asian nations—particularly China—express growing concerns about resurgent Japanese militarism. Recent comments by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggesting potential military intervention in the Taiwan Strait have drawn sharp criticism from Chinese officials.
Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, spokesman for China’s Defense Ministry, stated: ‘Instead of repenting its war crimes of invading and colonizing Taiwan, Japan is taking an extremely wrong approach by suggesting military intervention in a so-called Taiwan contingency.’
The anniversary also highlights the historic military cooperation between China and the United States during World War II. The Doolittle Raid of April 1942—America’s first bombing of the Japanese mainland—resulted in many crew members crash-landing in China where locals assisted their return. The Flying Tigers, American fighter pilots under General Claire Lee Chennault, further cemented this alliance by protecting Chinese supply lines and engaging Japanese aircraft.
Descendants of Flying Tigers veterans recently gathered at California’s Richard Nixon Presidential Library to commemorate the 80th anniversary of WWII’s conclusion, honoring the shared history that continues to inspire international cooperation and peace efforts.