The nation has lost a living link to one of its most pivotal moments in history. Vaughn P. Drake Jr., the oldest known survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor, passed away on April 7 at the remarkable age of 106.

His death marks the end of an era as fewer witnesses remain who can recount firsthand the events that thrust the United States into World War II.

Born on November 6, 1918, in Winchester, Kentucky, Drake entered the world just five days before the end of World War I. He would live to witness and participate in the defining global conflict of the 20th century. At the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Drake was serving as an Army engineer stationed on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. Along with a group of fellow engineers, he was working at a temporary power plant built to support construction efforts at the Kaneohe Naval Air Station.

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In a 2016 interview with the Lexington Herald-Leader, Drake recounted the confusion that morning as waves of Japanese aircraft swarmed the island.

“There’s no way Japan could get planes over Pearl Harbor! We didn’t think it could possibly happen,” he recalled.

As he walked to breakfast, he noticed planes flying overhead, but he and other soldiers initially believed it was a routine military exercise conducted by the Army Air Corps.

Even the red insignias on the planes’ tails — symbols of the Imperial Japanese military — were not enough to convince them of the truth at first.

That illusion quickly shattered. The attack was real.

Explosions and gunfire echoed across the island as the Japanese offensive crippled America’s Pacific fleet. Kaneohe Naval Air Station, where Drake was stationed, became a target.

Amid the chaos, a Japanese plane was shot down and crashed on the base.

Drake later recalled that he and other soldiers went to the crash site and took fragments of the wreckage — tangible reminders of a day that would forever alter their lives.

The attack on Pearl Harbor resulted in the deaths of 2,403 Americans, the sinking or damage of over a dozen naval vessels, and the destruction of more than 180 aircraft.

It marked a turning point in world history, prompting the United States to formally enter World War II.

Drake went on to serve honorably in several island-hopping campaigns across the Pacific Theater.

His service included participation in the Battle of Saipan in 1944, a major conflict during the Marianas Campaign.

His military career was distinguished by multiple honors, including the World War II Victory Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the American Defense Medal with Foreign Service bar, and the Asiatic-Pacific Medal with two battle stars.

After his military service, Drake returned to civilian life and continued to build the nation in a different way — as an engineer.

He worked for the General Telephone Company until his retirement in 1981.

Known for his humility and quiet strength, Drake lived a life of service, both in uniform and beyond.

As of now, only about a dozen Pearl Harbor survivors remain alive, according to the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors.

In December 2023, Warren “Red” Upton, the last living crew member of the USS Utah, passed away at the age of 105.

These men and women, who bore witness to history and carried the scars of war, are leaving behind a legacy that must be preserved and honored.

Drake’s passing is not only a loss for his family and community but also for the broader tapestry of American history. He is survived by his son, two grandsons, and three great-grandchildren.

A military burial service is scheduled for Thursday, April 17, honoring a man who stood witness to the moment the United States was drawn into one of the deadliest conflicts in human history — and who lived a life defined by duty, resilience, and quiet patriotism.

As the nation bids farewell to Vaughn P. Drake Jr., we remember not just the man, but the generation he represented — the Greatest Generation, whose courage in the face of unimaginable adversity helped shape the course of the modern world.