Herbert grew up on his parents farm, and delivered milk for a living. He joined the Minnesota National Guard in Brainerd, Minnesota in September 1940.
Herbert was a member of the A Company, 194th Tank Battalion. On February 10, 1941, he was one of 43 of Brainerd's finest young men to leave for Fort Lewis, Washington where they would undergo training for the war against the Japanese.
In September of 1941, they arrived on the Philippine island of Luzon. On December 8, 1941, Herbert and Company learned of the attack on Pearl Harbor. They began guarding the perimeter of the airfield against Japanese paratroopers when planes began approaching from the north. The A Company tanks were sent north where they engaged in several battles against the Japanese.
At about 14:45 on December 26th, while the tanks were parked waiting for orders, mortar shells began landing around them. Sgt. Herbert Strobel was the first man killed while he was standing in the turret of his tank when a shell exploded in the treetops above; there wasn't enough time to close the cover. Herbert was taken to an aid station where he died fifteen minutes later.
A carillon bell tower was installed on the Brainerd courthouse roof as a memorial to Herbert and the other fine young men of Brainerd, and to remind the citizens of Brainerd of the great sacrifice that these men made.
Herbert grew up on his parents farm, and delivered milk for a living. He joined the Minnesota National Guard in Brainerd, Minnesota in September 1940.
Herbert was a member of the A Company, 194th Tank Battalion. On February 10, 1941, he was one of 43 of Brainerd's finest young men to leave for Fort Lewis, Washington where they would undergo training for the war against the Japanese.
In September of 1941, they arrived on the Philippine island of Luzon. On December 8, 1941, Herbert and Company learned of the attack on Pearl Harbor. They began guarding the perimeter of the airfield against Japanese paratroopers when planes began approaching from the north. The A Company tanks were sent north where they engaged in several battles against the Japanese.
At about 14:45 on December 26th, while the tanks were parked waiting for orders, mortar shells began landing around them. Sgt. Herbert Strobel was the first man killed while he was standing in the turret of his tank when a shell exploded in the treetops above; there wasn't enough time to close the cover. Herbert was taken to an aid station where he died fifteen minutes later.
A carillon bell tower was installed on the Brainerd courthouse roof as a memorial to Herbert and the other fine young men of Brainerd, and to remind the citizens of Brainerd of the great sacrifice that these men made.
Gravesite Details
He also has a memorial marker at Evergreen Memorial Gardens in Brainerd, MN.
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