First Lieutenant Herman was a veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was a member of the 1st Airborne Ranger Company, 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in South Korea on 18 May 1951.

For his leadership and valor, First Lieutenant Herman was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat Valor Device, the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, the Republic of Korea War Service Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.