At the time of his death Vaughn Drake Jr. was the oldest surviving member of the Pearl Harbor attack. He died at 106 on April 7, according to his obituary. He was born in Winchester, Kentucky on November 6, 1918. To the very end of his life, he worked tirelessly on behalf of his country and to provide for a loving family. His remarkable journey from a young soldier to a cherished family man spanned over a century, leaving behind a legacy that will be remembered by many.
Drake was just 23 years old when the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor occurred on Dec. 7, 1941. At the time, he was serving proudly as an officer in the Army Corps of Engineers. He fought in some of the most important battles of World War II, from Pearl Harbor, all the way to Saipan in the Marianas. More than a decade later, he could still clearly remember the assault. He explained, “We were preparing to go to breakfast when we started hearing all these planes buzzing over and rumbling like crazy. Initially, he didn’t even realize what he was observing. Man, I think they really know how to put on a show, he imagined, but then his attitude changed when he heard one of the officers yell, This is an invasion! The Japanese are invading the entire island!
Drake’s military service posthumously received many awards. For his service, he was awarded a special congressional medal for Pearl Harbor veterans, as well the World War II Victory Medal. After returning to Kentucky post-war, he transitioned into a successful engineering career in the private sector. He eventually created a stable life for himself and his wife, an artist, Lina Drake, whom he married in 1946. The two celebrated 65 years together before her passing in 2011.
Together, they raised one son, Samuel Drake, and soon welcomed a growing family that included two grandsons and three great-grandchildren. Vaughn Drake liked to look back on his life with pride, his eyes sparkling as he proclaimed, “I really feel like I’m in history.” Through this lens he shared the experiences of war. It further highlighted the extent to which he played a critical role in creating improved opportunities and the future for his descendants.
In 2016, Drake participated in an interview with the Lexington Herald-Leader to share his memories of that fateful day at Pearl Harbor. Even at 98 years old, he still had a clear picture in his head of seeing the first Japanese plane go down at Kaneohe. His memories were an immeasurable gift to us all, shedding light on a tumultuous week that forever changed the course of our nation’s history.
Vaughn Drake Jr. will be given a military burial service at the Winchester Cemetery in Kentucky on April 17. His death marks the end of an era. Those who shared his deep faith, determination, love of country and family—all virtues he embodied—will mourn this great loss.