Senior U.S. and Japanese officials generally avoid public discourse on Japan’s 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, making President Donald Trump’s casual reference to it in defense of his Iran war secrecy deeply embarrassing and confusing for Japan. The incident, which occurred with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi by his side, highlighted ongoing sensitivities around Japan’s World War II history and the critical importance of its alliance with the U.S. While some praised Takaichi for prioritizing diplomatic ties, others criticized her for not challenging Trump’s comments, underscoring a delicate balance between historical memory and present-day geopolitical alliances.
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The recent meeting between President Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida took a bewildering turn when the former, responding to a question about notifying allies of U.S. strikes on Iran, invoked the attack on Pearl Harbor. The comparison, made directly in front of the Japanese leader, has left many perplexed and deeply concerned about the President’s grasp of history and diplomacy.
The core of the President’s remark, reportedly as a retort to a reporter’s question about lack of ally consultation, was “Who knows better about surprises than Japan? Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor?” This statement immediately ignited a firestorm of disbelief and dismay, not least because of the profoundly inappropriate context of addressing the Prime Minister of Japan with such a historical reference.… Continue reading
Ira “Ike” Schab, a 105-year-old World War II Navy veteran and Pearl Harbor survivor, has passed away, leaving only a small number of survivors from the 1941 attack. Schab, who was 21 during the attack, served in the Pacific and later worked on the Apollo spaceflight program. In recent years, he made an effort to attend the annual Pearl Harbor observances to honor the fallen, including those who served alongside him on the USS Dobbin. Schab’s passing serves as a somber reminder of the dwindling number of those who witnessed this pivotal moment in history.
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After 84 years, the remains of U.S. Navy Mess Attendant 3rd Class Neil D. Frye, killed during the Pearl Harbor attack, were identified and returned to his family. His sister, Mary Frye McCrimmon, 87, laid him to rest with full military honors on what would have been his 104th birthday. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency used DNA and anthropological analysis to confirm his identity after years of searching by his family. Frye’s remains were recovered from the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific and his name will now be marked with a rosette on the Walls of the Missing.
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Warren Upton, the last surviving USS Utah crewman and oldest Pearl Harbor attack survivor, passed away at 105 from pneumonia. He vividly recalled the attack, describing the initial torpedo strikes and his subsequent escape to Ford Island. Upton’s death leaves only fifteen remaining Pearl Harbor survivors from the estimated 87,000 military personnel present that day. His passing marks the end of an era, leaving behind a legacy of unwavering remembrance.
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Bob Fernandez, a 100-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor and USS Curtiss veteran, passed away peacefully at his nephew’s home in California. His death followed a recent stroke that prevented him from attending the 83rd anniversary commemoration in Hawaii. A mess cook during the attack, Fernandez witnessed firsthand the bombing and its devastating impact, losing shipmates in the process. He lived a full life, marked by his naval service, community involvement, and generosity, leaving behind a legacy of kindness.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood