Oldest Pearl Harbor survivor is a 106-year-old Massachusetts man

A 106-year-old Massachusetts man is the nation’s oldest Pearl Harbor survivor, a title he has shouldered with quiet dignity. Freeman Johnson was far below deck repairing a boiler on the USS St. Louis when the attack began and did not witness the bombardment from the surface. He recalls working inside a steam drum, seeing nothing as planes and ships moved overhead, and learning of the raid only later. The Centerville resident has kept mementos of his Navy service around him, including a dog tag and photos from his days as a fireman. His age and reticence have made him a symbol of the defining day.

Johnson became the oldest survivor after the deaths of Ira 'Ike' Schab in December and Clarence Lane in February, leaving about 11 known veterans of the attack. The assault killed just over 2,400 Americans and propelled the United States into World War II, memory mourned at Memorial Day ceremonies on Oahu’s waterfront. In 1991 the 50th anniversary drew thousands; in recent decades only a few attend, and in 2024 only two survivors traveled to Hawaii. Despite his reluctance to speak publicly, Johnson has become a focal point for remembrance and history.