CORONA, Calif. - By the time John Busma was 24, he had already served in the United States Navy for six years. He was stationed at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 aboard the U.S.S. Medusa, a repair ship, when he heard a “thunderous sound," on what had been a calm Sunday morning.

"I heard explosions, yelling, and then we saw fire, and that's how the day began," Busma said.

It’s no surprise those experiences have stayed with Busma in the 77 years that have followed. Each day, he proudly wears his garrison cap decorated with pins and memories. At 101, he is the oldest known American veteran in Southern California to have survived that day.

He has spent countless hours reflecting on what he saw that morning.

Busma has seen a century go by and admits his memory gets a little hazy when it comes to things like remembering where he put his cell phone, but he recalls Pearl Harbor like it was yesterday.

Among his fondest memories? Christmas of 1943. FDR was president and he met his wife, Iris -- like the flower he says. She’s 98 and camera-shy. They’ve been married 74 years. The centenarian jokes he’s still pretty sharp with numbers.

"She told me I've heard this story so many times I don't want to hear it again, ha ha," Busma said. Until recently, he drove a car, made public speeches, and returned to Hawaii each year for the Pearl Harbor Survivors reunion.

But he’s outlived nearly every fellow veteran, as well as three sisters and two brothers.

John Busma is part of history and he believes its vitally important that younger generations know that 2,403 Americans paid the ultimate sacrifice at Pearl Harbor…so many years ago.