Kentucky man, believed to be oldest known Pearl Harbor survivor, Vaughn Drake Jr., dies at 106

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — Vaughn P. Drake Jr., a Lexington man believed to be the oldest known survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor, passed away peacefully on April 7 at the age of 106, according to a news release.

Drake was born in Winchester on November 6, 1918, and served with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during World War II. At 23 years old, he was stationed at Kaneohe Naval Air Station on Oahu when Japanese forces attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

In a 2016 interview with the Lexington Herald-Leader, Drake recalled hearing planes overhead early that morning. “We were getting ready to go to breakfast and we heard all these planes flying over and making a lot of noise… we just figured it was the Army Air Corps carrying out maneuvers,” he said. The reality of the attack set in quickly after an officer shouted that the island was under attack.

According to the release, Drake later witnessed the Battle of Saipan and was awarded several commendations for his service, including the World War II Victory Medal and a special congressional medal honoring Pearl Harbor veterans.

After the war, Drake returned to Kentucky and began a career as a private sector engineer. He married Lina Wilson Drake, with whom he shared 65 years of marriage until her death in 2011. The couple raised one son, Samuel.

Though he didn’t return to Hawaii, Drake occasionally shared his memories in interviews, often with humility. “I do feel like a part of history,” he once said. “I haven’t made it the big thing in my life.”

His son, Samuel Drake, said, “My father never sought the spotlight, but he understood the importance of remembering and honoring history. He was proud of his service and proud to be part of a generation that stood up in defense of freedom. To us, he was more than a hero, he was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, and a humble man who lived with integrity every single day.”

Drake is survived by his son, two grandsons, and three great-grandchildren. A military burial will be held in his honor on April 17 at Winchester Cemetery. You can read his full obituary by clicking here.