Jack Holder, Notable Pearl Harbor Survivor, Dead at 101

The decorated World War II veteran passed away on Friday in Phoenix, Arizona.

Jack Holder, a Pearl Harbor survivor and decorated World War II veteran has died. He was 101.

Darlene Tryon, a close friend and the executor of Holder’s estate, told local reporters that he passed away at a hospital in the suburbs outside of Phoenix on Friday, Feb. 24.

"It is with profound sadness that I announce the passing of our dearest friend and esteemed member of the Greatest Generation, Pearl Harbor survivor and Navy Flight Engineer Jack Holder," the heartbroken statement began on Facebook. "Jack was an incredible man, a patriot who served his country with distinction and honor."

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Born as an only child to farmers in Gunter, Texas, Holder joined the Navy in 1940 to follow his dreams of flying shortly after he turned 18 years old. He was on duty at Ford Island (located within Oahu’s Pearl Harbor) when Japanese aircraft bombed the U.S. naval base on Dec. 7, 1941.

"The first bomb that fell on Pearl Harbor was about 100 yards from me," Holder stated in a 2016 interview with the Arizona Republic, adding that he "saw guys swimming through burning oil in the water."

He recalled taking cover in a ditch to avoid gunfire and eventually made his way to safety behind some sandbags. "I wondered if this was the day I would die," he told the outlet. "That morning I watched as Japanese dive bombers devastated Pearl Harbor. I knew that we would no longer sit on the sidelines of the war ravaging Europe."

Related: Grit and Gallantry: An Excerpt From a Pearl Harbor Survivor's Memoir

Holder detailed his harrowing experience operating a makeshift machine gun pit comprised of a ditch lined with sandbags in the aftermath of the attack, which killed about 2,400 service members and launched the U.S. into World War II.

He later went on to fly over 100 missions in the Pacific across European territories and was awarded two Distinguished Flying Cross Medals, six Air Medals, a Presidential Citation, and six Commendation Medals throughout his Navy career before being honorably discharged in 1948, according to the Pearl Harbor National Memorial.

Upon returning to his civilian code, Holder continued his dream of flying for another 25 years as a commercial and corporate pilot.

He eventually retired and moved to Arizona, where he became a WWII educator and a regular at Pearl Harbor commemorations inside museums and schools, according to Tryon.

The recognized veteran was also quoted crediting his long life to: "a good heart and two scotch and sodas every night."

Tryon said an early April memorial service had been planned for Holder in Phoenix, and he will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery near the nation’s capital at a later date.

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