Page 96 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2023 - Online Magazine
P. 96
Harvey Herber
A 60-Year-Old Promise
by Laura Landes (LakeRidge Chapel and Memorial Designers)
of his baby brother being
unaccounted for continued to
plague him.
William had a family of his
own, and due to extenuating
circumstances, he eventually
became the sole guardian of
his grandson, Jerry Johnson.
During their time together,
William shared with Jerry
the story of his brother and
how it had impacted him
Jerry Johnson, Sr. most of his life. Jerry, even as
a young man, could not bear
Japanese Aircraft. One ship, the thought of the deep-seated
the USS Oklahoma (BB-37), pain his grandfather suffered,
recently equipped with not having his brother properly
anti-torpedo bulges on her laid to rest. After all, this man of
EM1 Harvey Christopher Herber sides, was able to survive modest means was sacrificing
the first two torpedo strikes, so much to care for him in his
arvey Christopher yet regretfully, was unable parents’ absence.
Herber was the youngest to withstand the six additional
Hof six children, born hits that followed, causing her At the age of 14, Jerry Johnson
to George and Rachel (Lund) to capsize on her port (left) side made a promise to his
Herber, in Tacoma, WA. In 1921, within 12 minutes. Sadly, the grandfather that he would
at the ripe age of 21, Harvey USS Oklahoma, which had been somehow, one day, find the
decided to enlist in the US Navy, Harvey’s home since September remains of his great uncle
where, after attending boot camp, 30, 1930, now became his grave. Harvey and bring him home to
he received specialty training as EM1 Harvey Christopher Herber, his family where he could be
an Electrician’s Mate. This was alongside 400 of his shipmates, properly honored and be able to
an extremely ambitious choice took his final breath, as the USS rest in peace. Now 60 years later,
of career, as EMs are responsible Oklahoma slowly descended, this promise has finally come to
for the electrical system that becoming a watery tomb. fruition.
every ship relies upon to operate
properly. The magnitude of Loss is difficult for any family, Jerry grew to adulthood, married,
the electrical system needed but a loss laden with such had children of his own, and like
to successfully maintain a tragedy was overly devastating his great uncle, proudly served
ship’s needs can equate to that to the families of those fallen his country. He never forgot
of a small city. Harvey was sailors. It deeply affected the the promise he had made to his
dedicated to his skillset and his Herber family, especially William grandfather before his passing
responsibilities and was proud to Herber, the eldest of the siblings. so many years before, and he
serve his country in this capacity, Unable to see his brother again or made it his mission to stay true
quickly advancing to 1st Class. provide proper active-duty burial to his word. Because of this, he
rights took its toll on William’s dedicated much of his life to this
On the morning of December mental and emotional health. The sacred task.
7, 1941, the US Navy fleet on years passed. William lost his
“Battleship Row” at Pearl Harbor parents, and eventually, his other Jerry knew the two-year
was attacked by carrier-based siblings, and still, the thought endeavor of righting the USS
96 Lubbock Senior Link
