Celebrating Veterans at Fairwinds – Ivey Ranch

Jan 17, Alissa Sauer

December 7, 1941, is a day that continues to live in infamy. Fairwinds – Ivey Ranch resident George Coburn was a sailor on Battleship Row when Japan attacked Hawaii on that fateful day. Exactly 82 years later, George was honored with a Dream Flight. Learn more about his story of courage and sacrifice at Pearl Harbor.

Dream Flights is a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring military veterans and seniors by providing flights in a Boeing Stearman biplane, the same aircraft used to train many military aviators in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Founded in 2011, the company has taken nearly 6,000 military veterans on a dream flight.

At 103 years old, George Coburn can readily remember that day. He recounts being on the U.S.S. Oklahoma on Battleship Row in Pearl Harbor. He recalls the urgent intercom accouchement that day, “Real planes! Real bombs! No shit!” Despite their best efforts, the USS Oklahoma was torpedoed eight times in ten minutes. The ninth torpedo sank the ship. At the end of the day, 429 sailors on the U.S.S. Oklahoma were killed.

Working with Honor Flight San Diego, George received a Dream Flight exactly 82 years later. On December 7, 2023, pilot, founder, and president of Dream Flights, Darryl Fisher, said, “Today’s flight is one I will not forget. I’ve flown other Pearl Harbor survivors, but never on Pearl Harbor Day.”

At Fairwinds – Ivey Ranch, every day is a celebration! Join the fun, maximize your independence, and discover the support you need to show up as your best self through our independent living and assisted living services. Contact us today for your tour.