WWII Veteran Bob Fernandez is interviewed by local news media outlets prior to the National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day 77th Anniversary ceremony, 2018. (Photo: U.S. Navy Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Justin R. Pacheco)
Bob Fernandez, one of the remaining survivors of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, died peacefully on Wednesday at the age of 100. Fernandez passed away at his nephew’s home, Joe Guthrie, in Lodi, California, after declining health prevented him from attending the 83rd anniversary remembrance ceremony in Hawaii last week.
Fernandez, who suffered a stroke about a month ago, had been slowing down in recent weeks, with doctors attributing his condition to his age. He died peacefully with his grandniece, Halie Torrell, holding his hand during his final moments, according to Guthrie.
Fernandez was a 17-year-old mess cook aboard the USS Curtiss on December 7, 1941 when Japanese planes launched their devastating surprise attack that thrust the United States into World War II. Fernandez was waiting tables and delivering morning coffee when alarms sounded across the ship. Through a porthole, he saw a Japanese plane fly past, its red-ball insignia unmistakable. He rushed three decks down to a magazine room, where he and other sailors anxiously waited to unlock the storage holding ammunition shells for the ship’s guns. Amid the chaos, some of his fellow sailors began crying and praying as they heard gunfire and explosions above. Fernandez later recounted that he felt scared because he didn’t know what was going on.
The USS Curtiss was heavily targeted during the attack. Its gunners managed to hit a Japanese dive bomber, but the damaged aircraft crashed into the ship’s crane and exploded, igniting deadly fires on the hangar and main decks. The ship lost 21 crew members and nearly 60 others were injured. Fernandez recalled the aftermath vividly, having swept debris and later guarded the ship overnight, unknowingly falling asleep beside his fallen comrades.
Following the war, Fernandez spent decades working as a forklift driver at a cannery in San Leandro, California. He and his wife, Mary, shared 65 years of marriage before her passing in 2014. Fernandez’s nephew remembered him as a generous and active man who, even in his later years, enjoyed dancing, music, and helping neighbors with yard work. He was known for his kindness and for making friends everywhere he went.
Fernandez is survived by his oldest son, Robert, a granddaughter, and several great-grandchildren. His death leaves only 16 known Pearl Harbor survivors, all of whom are over 100 years old. Fernandez will be remembered not only for his service but also for his humility and dedication to spreading joy wherever he went.
“I’m not a hero,” Fernandez once said. “I’m just an ammunition passer.”
Author: Rikki Almanza
Rikki is a Web Content Coordinator for the American Legion, Department of California. With a deep-rooted connection to the military, a spouse who is a Navy veteran, a father who served in the Air Force for 25 years, and a grandfather who proudly served, Rikki is committed to using her skills and knowledge to provide valuable assistance and resources to servicemembers and veterans.