Elon G. Strom
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Navy
Unit Info: Naval Reserve
Elon G. Strom enlisted in the Navy Reserve on December 27, 1941, Home at entry: Duluth, Minnesota.
He served as a Torpedoman First Class in the Pacific and Aleutian Islands aboard the USS Mustin 413 and USS Solace.
He eventually rose to First-Class Petty Officer. After boot camp he reported to the USS Mustin (DD-413) in San Francisco on February 7, 1942. The ship was part of a convoy of ships, some carrying lumber, that arrived in Pearl Harbor and later was part of a task force that included the aircraft carrier USS Hornet.
The task force was involved in a battle with Japanese forces in the Battle of Santa Cruz on October 26, 1942, in which the Mustin picked up 337 survivors of the Hornet, which was destroyed by Japanese attackers and had to be sunk to keep it from enemy hands.
Of the incident, Strom says: “At 19:05 we fired eight torpedoes into the Hornet and three exploded. The Anderson (another U.S. ship) later fired eight torpedoes but not much happened. Then the Mustin and Anderson fired more than 200 5-inch, 38-caliber shells into the Hornet. We were followed by Jap planes and subs until almost three in the morning.
We took the survivors to Noumea, New Caledonia, and then we continued with the duties of a destroyer. We took part in the third battle of Salvo Island. On December 7, Adm. Halsey came aboard and presented our Captain with the Navy Cross and three enlisted men received the Silver Star.” Later the Mustin was involved in fighting in the Aleutian Islands and at Guadalcanal and won 13 battle stars. After the war, Strom returned to work for Bridgeman Russell as a driver and later in sales.
He was in the South Pacific until March 1943. Mr. Strom was honorably discharged on November 8, 1945, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Elon G. Strom
Enlisted in the Naval Reserve December 27, 1941. Home at entry: Duluth, Minnesota.
Served as a Torpedoman First Class in the Pacific and Aleutian Islands aboard the USS Mustin 413 and USS Solace. "Went to South Pacific in July, was with the carrier group with the USS Hornet and USS North Carolina. Lost the Hornet in the battle of Santa Cruz. The Mustin picked up 337 survisors from the Hornet."
He was in the South Pacific until March 8, 1943. Honorably discharged November 8, 1945, Minneapolis, Minn.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The Saint Louis County World War II Project, 311.
