Oldest Pearl Harbor survivor is keeping the memory of Pearl Harbor alive at 106
AP News • • general
Key Points:
- Freeman Johnson, the oldest living survivor of the Pearl Harbor attack at 106, was below deck repairing a boiler on the USS St. Louis during the bombing and did not witness the attack firsthand.
- Johnson is one of only 11 remaining survivors of the surprise attack, which killed over 2,400 troops and marked the U.S. entry into World War II; he has become a local celebrity and symbol of the historic event.
- Despite his advanced age and health challenges, Johnson vividly recalls his wartime experiences, including helping commission the USS Iowa and witnessing the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay in 1945.
- Johnson’s daughter encourages him to share his story to educate younger generations about Pearl Harbor, emphasizing his unique perspective from the beginning to the end of the war.
- Although Pearl Harbor is a significant part of his history, Johnson views his post-war life—marriage, family, and work—as more defining than the attack itself.