Herb Weatherwax was born in Honolulu, Hawai'i on June 3, 1917. He was drafted into the United States Army on June 6, 1941 After basic training, he was assigned to the 298th infantry Regiment located at Schofield, O'ahu Hawai'i. On December 7, 1941, private Weatherwax was on a weekend pass when he heard an announcement over local radio that Pearl Harbor was under attack by Japanese forces. The announcement instructed that all military personnel should immediately report to their duty stations. On his was to Schofield Barracks, he witnessed the destruction at Pearl Harbor and Wheeler Army Airfield near Schofield.