Fon Huffman

Fon Birdell Huffman (August 19, 1913 – September 4, 2008) was a United States Navy veteran who was believed to be the last survivor of 1937 attack on the USS Panay gunboat, which became known as the Panay incident. The United States and Japan were not at war at the time of the attack. The sinking of the USS Panay marked the first act of aggression by the Japanese Empire against the United States prior to World War II.

Early life
Fon B. Huffman was born on August 19, 1913, in Truro, Iowa, to parents Washington Elmer and Ida Huffman. He was the youngest of six siblings.

Huffman enlisted in the U.S. Navy when he was just 16 years old with his father's signature.

Panay Incident
Huffman was serving as a 24-year-old boilerman in the U.S. Asiatic Fleet on board the Panay at the time of the attack on December 12, 1937. The fleet's mission was to patrol the Yangtze River to protect American interests as part of a treaty between the United States and the Nationalist government of China.

The Japanese attack and sinking of the Panay in the Yangtze was captured on camera by Universal news reporter, Norman Alley. Huffman gave his own lifejacket to Alley during the attack. There are several still photographs and film footage of Huffman throwing an improvised flotation device off the Panay.

Huffman served on naval destroyers in both the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean during World War II. He retired from the Navy as a chief petty officer in June 1949.

Personal life
Huffman met his future wife, Lillian (Homberger) Schwarz, in Norfolk, Virginia, while on leave from the Navy. The couple were married in November 1945. They had two daughters - Nancy, born in 1946, and Gayle, who was born in 1949.

The Huffman family moved to Golden Valley, Minnesota, following his retirement in 1949. They built their first home in the town. Huffman worked for the local school district before taking a position with the Soo Line Railroad, where he worked as a stationary engineer. He continued to work for the railroad for more than thirty years until his retirement.

Fon and Lillian Huffman moved to Summerville, Florida from Minnesota, in 1972 before settling permanently in Titusville, Florida. They continued to reside in Titusville until Lilian's death in 2006. Huffman moved to Sierra Vista, Arizona, several months after his wife's death to live with his oldest daughter, Nancy, and her husband. Just prior to his death, Huffman was interviewed about his wartime experience by filmmaker Nick T. Spark for the website USSPanay.org.

Death
Fon Huffman died in his sleep in a nursing home in Sierra Vista, Arizona, on September 4, 2008, at the age of 95. He was survived by his daughters, Nancy (Steve) Ferguson of Sierra Vista, Arizona, and Gayle (Rusty) Pickus of Fairbanks, Alaska; and his grandchildren - James Pickus and Jeffrey Pickus.

Huffman was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.