103-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor Ken Schubring remembers Dec. 7 assault

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Pearl Harbor survivor Ken Schubring enlisted when he was simply 17.

"Every thing appeared to lean towards that being within the playing cards sooner slightly than later," the 103-year-old instructed WANF-TV this week, days forward of the anniversary of the 1941 assault. "So not a lot of a choice to be made."

Schubring ended his guard responsibility on the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, then went to eat.

"I went to eat breakfast after my responsibility and shortly earlier than 8 a.m., an explosion shook our bunkers," he mentioned at a Veterans Day ceremony on the Nationwide WWII Museum this yr, in line with Spirit America. "Everybody rushed outdoors."

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The USS Arizona burns through the bombing of Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. (U.S. Navy/Newsmakers)

"The sky was stuffed with airplanes, dive bombers," he continued. "I hit the deck, crawled to a ditch close by… and stayed there till the primary wave had completed."

In one other interview, Schubring instructed CBS Information that regardless of his age, the assault was one thing he "can’t neglect."

And as considered one of simply 13 Pearl Harbor survivors remaining alive because the 84th anniversary of the assault approaches on Sunday, he’s a rarity.

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Aerial view of the aftermath of the assault on Pearl Harbor. (Hulton Archive/Getty Pictures)

His son, Ken Schubring Jr., instructed CBS he needs People to recollect the "sacrifice" of those that skilled Pearl Harbor.

"I imply, the sacrifice that was provided that day after which, subsequently years later, I imply, you'll be able to’t put a worth on that. You may’t neglect it," he mentioned.

Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn mentioned it was a "pleasure" to assist Schubring get to the WWII Museum ceremony final month.

"God bless the veterans who've served our nation so courageously," she wrote on X final month. "It was a pleasure to assist WWII Veteran and Pearl Harbor survivor Ken Schubring Sr. get to this ceremony in order that he might be honored for all that he has sacrificed for our nation."

After Pearl Harbor, Schubring grew to become a flight engineer on B-29 bombers, flying missions within the Pacific.

"We’d fly straight over Iwo Jima or round it to our targets," he instructed WANF. "The bombings have been particular person bombings."

An explosion on the Naval Air Station, Ford Island, Pearl Harbor through the assault. (Fox Pictures/Getty Pictures)

Schubring nonetheless remembers the place he was when he heard the Japanese had surrendered .

"About two hours into our return from a bombing raid over Osaka … the radio introduced Emperor Hirohito had requested for an armistice," he instructed the station. "The battle was over."

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Even after he left the navy, Schubring continued to struggle for justice, working for racial faculty integration in Athens, Georgia, the place he was faculty board president.

"I keep in mind getting known as plenty of unhealthy issues, however my dad by no means wavered," his son instructed CBS of the at-the-time controversial coverage.