Share on LinkedIn

BEAVERTON Ore. (KPTV) - This year for the Fourth of July, Ira ‘Ike’ Schab Jr. is celebrating his 104th birthday surrounded by friends and family.

His daughter, Kimberlee, said his birthday wish was to ride in the sidecar of a motorcycle. With the help of The Washington County Abate, Ike got to enjoy a little joyride to his surprise birthday party in Hillsboro.

“I never ever expected him to make it to 104,” Kimberlee said.

SEE ALSO:

It's a big week for rodeos in Oregon, including one in Molalla that makes everyone a cowboy or cowgirl in the area. www.rascalrodeo.org

Before his surprise joy ride, FOX 12 caught up with the Pearl Harbor veteran. Ike was only 21 when he enlisted as a Musician Second Class.

“Most of my time at Pearl was quiet, routine, doing chores,” Ike said. “My sousaphone was a big thing to shine and it had to shine big, goal line bell, and a silver horn and we had to shine that boy and it had to really sparkle.”

But on December 7, 1941, Japanese planes attacked the United States Naval Base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii; killing more than 2,300 Americans.

Ike was there to see it unfold.

“While he was getting ready to go out, just started a cup of coffee, had to drop it and heard everything, went up on deck and saw the Utah capsize I believe at that moment,” Kimberlee said. “It was days and hours of helping people out.”

“It was pretty scary actually just scared. When is it gonna hit me? When am I gonna die? You don’t know what’s gonna happen and the uncertainty is hard to describe you just can’t.”

SEE ALSO:

With temperatures expected to be dangerously hot in the Portland metro area, veterinarians are reminding people to be mindful of their pet’s health.

After that, the father of five went on to become an engineer.

“He went onto land men from the moon. We’re really proud of him. He’s never been like some great hero of your but, he’s mine,” Kimberlee said.

Now, Ike has zoom cocktails with his fraternity brothers every Friday night.

“We just shoot the breeze tell us what we’ve been doing, reminisce a little.”

“As long as he has the desire and wants to do things we’re gonna try to get it done,” Kimberlee said.