Robert “Bob” Norvess (99) — Pearl Harbor Witness, WWII Service, Faith & a Century of Wisdom

Every once in a while, you meet someone whose life feels like a living chapter of American history.

In this episode, we sit with Robert “Bob” Norvess, age 99 — a man born during the Great Depression, shaped by World War II, and strengthened by a lifetime of Christian faith.

As a young man, Bob directly witnessed the sinking of the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor, one of the most defining moments in American history. He later served under Top Secret clearance in Yokohama, Japan, working as a technical aide on Douglas MacArthur’s post-war team, helping rebuild a world shaken by conflict.

After the war, Bob returned home to Michigan, where he quietly lived out a life of faith, family, work, and service — the kind of “ordinary hero” whose story too often goes untold.

In this conversation, Bob reflects on:

Witnessing Pearl Harbor firsthand

Serving during WWII under top-secret conditions

Living and working in post-war Japan

How faith sustained him through war, loss, and nearly a century of life

How America has changed across 99 years

What the WWII generation understood about duty, sacrifice, and freedom

His hopes and prayers for America as we approach the nation’s 250th anniversary

This interview is part of S’mores & Stripes, a grassroots America250 storytelling initiative preserving the voices of families, veterans, and descendants who lived our history — and carried it forward.

Bob, happy early/late 99th birthday. This recording stands as a gift to your family, your community, and the nation.