Herb Elfring was a 19-year-old National Guardsman stationed at Camp Malakole when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.
- Died: May 25, 2024 (Who else died on May 25?)
- Details of death: Died in Michigan the age of 102.
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Herb Elfring’s legacy
Herb Elfring grew up on a farm in South Dakota, then moved to Montana with his family. At 16, he joined the Montana National Guard, then in 1940 enlisted in the California National Guard after moving to San Diego to attend San Diego State University. His unit was activated for duty in 1941, and he was sent to serve in Hawaii.
Elfring was 19 years old on Dec. 7, 1941 and was serving at Camp Malakole – located about three miles from Pearl Harbor – when the air attack happened. At first, he thought it was a drill, until Japanese fighters strafed him and his colleagues, nearly striking them. Elfring was pushed into World War II, declared the following day, and he served in Fiji, the Solomon Islands, and the Philippines before being discharged in 1945 as a captain.
After the war, he went back to school, attending the University of Michigan and earning a degree in electrical engineering. Elfring worked at CMS Energy in Jackson, Michigan for his entire career. Later in life, he devoted his time to helping younger veterans via One Stop Veteran Resources, which provides mentoring, classes, and workshops.
Notable quote
“At the last moment, the track of one Japanese plane shifted ever so slightly, and the line of bullets barely missed me and my crew. To this day, I wonder if the Japanese pilot had a moment of kindness or if the winds had pushed him slightly off course.”—2021 interview with Michigan Today
Tributes to Herb Elfring
Full obituary: Honolulu Star Advertiser
