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MM1c Elmer Pershing Schlund
Elmer Pershing “Benny” Schlund had been in the Navy five years and planned to make it his career.
Instead, he was killed in the Dec. 7, 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He was a machinist’s mate and petty officer first class on the U.S.S. Arizona.
Mr. Schlund was born Sept. 11, 1918 in Hall County in central Nebraska, to Harry Schlund, a mechanic, and Maude Kemptar Schlund, a homemaker.
The family lived in various places near Mayfield, St. Michael, and Cairo west of Grand Island, the county seat. Mr. Schlund attended school at Cairo, whose population was about 400. He enlisted on Nov. 17, 1936.
A memorial service, led by the Cairo and Wood River American Legion posts, honored Mr. Schlund in February 1942 at the Methodist Church in Cairo.
Sources: The Ravenna (Nebraska) News; the Lincoln (Nebraska) Star; Census; Navy muster roll. This profile was researched and written on behalf of the U.S.S. Arizona Mall Memorial at the University of Arizona.
NOTE: If you are a family member related to this crew member of the U.S.S. Arizona, or have additional information, pictures or documents to share about his life or service to our county please contact us through our FAMILY MEMBER SUBMISSION FORM.