Electrician’s Mate 1st Class Harvey Herber, born in Tacoma, Washington, who was serving onboard the battleship U.S.S. Oklahoma during the Dec. 7 attack on Pearl Harbor, was laid to rest at 2 p.m., March 24, at Peaceful Gardens Cemetery in Lubbock, Texas, according to an official report from the U.S. Navy. Herber’s date of birth is listed as Nov. 21, 1907.
The U.S.S. Oklahoma, a celebrated battleship, was sunk in Pearl Harbor on the day of the attack.
Moored outboard of U.S.S. Maryland, U.S.S. Oklahoma was hit by a great number of Japanese Type 91 aerial torpedoes. With her port side torn open over much of its length, Oklahoma rapidly rolled over and sank to the harbor bottom, with the loss of over 400 of her crew. Many of the men trapped in her upturned hull were cut free through the intense efforts of Sailors and civilian Navy Yard employees.
Herber’s Navy decorations included the Purple Heart Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal (with Fleet Clasp) Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (with Bronze Star), American Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.
Herber’s family could not supply a photo of EM1c Herber to Navy personnel, according to the Navy’s report. The Navy also searched for a photo on its own resources and was not able to unearth one.
The U.S.S. Oklahoma, the battleship on which Harvey Herber served, is seen here in the aftermath of the attack, with personnel working to breach the hull to rescue sailors trapped inside. CREDIT: NAVAL HISTORY AND HERITAGE COMMAND