Bob Fernandez
Robert Fernandez | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Robert Louie Fernandez |
| Born | 1924 San Jose, California |
| Died | (aged 100) Lodi, California |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1941-1946 |
| Rank | Seaman First Class |
| Unit | USS Curtiss (AV-4) |
| Battles / wars |
|
| Spouse(s) |
Mary Fernandez (died 2014) |
| Children | 2 |
| Other work | Forklift driver |
Robert Louie Fernandez (1924 - December 11, 2024) was an American veteran and one of the last known survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Early life and career
Fernandez was born in San Jose, California, in 1924. In August 1941, at the age of 17, he enlisted in the United States Navy, and was stationed in the Pearl Harbor base on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu.[1] He was motivated to join the Navy as he "wanted to see the world".[2] According to military records, he served as a mess cook and ammunition loader. After serving, Fernandez worked as a forklift driver at a cannery in San Leandro, California. His wife of 65 years, Mary, with whom he had a step-daughter and two sons, died in 2014.[3] In 2016, Fernandez did an interview with the History Channel featured in television show Pearl Harbor: The Last Word.[4] A week before his death, Fernandez did a phone interview with The Associated Press.[5]
Fernandez died on December 11, 2024, at the age of 100, in Lodi, California.[6] He was survived by his oldest son, Robert J. Fernandez, a granddaughter, and several great-grandchildren.[3] Following Fernandez's death, an estimated 16 surviving service members remain, according to the organisation Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors.[1][7]
References
- ^ a b Nostrant, Rachel (14 December 2024). "Bob Fernandez, Who Survived Pearl Harbor as a Teenager, Dies at 100". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 15 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
- ^ "Bob Fernandez, 100-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor, dies 83 years after bombing". The Boston Globe. 15 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
- ^ a b "Bob Fernandez, 100-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor, dies peacefully at home 83 years after bombing". CNN. 14 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
- ^ "Robert Louie Fernandez Collection". Library of Congress. Archived from the original on 15 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
- ^ "2 Pearl Harbor survivors, ages 104 and 102, return to Hawaii to honor those killed in 1941 attack". The Associated Press. 8 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
- ^ "Bob Fernandez, 100-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor, dies peacefully at home 83 years after bombing". Indiana Gazette. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
- ^ Elassar, Alaa (7 December 2024). "A legacy of valor: Only 16 Pearl Harbor survivors remain. On the 83rd anniversary, they still share stories of heroism". CNN. Archived from the original on 16 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.