He then served on the replenishment oiler Ramapo and the submarine S-38 before joining the commissioning crew of USS Trout at the Portsmouth Navy Yard in August 1940.

[2] At the beginning of World War II, Harlfinger served on the submarines Trout and Whale and was awarded three Silver Stars.

In 1950, Harlfinger helped to organize Submarine Division 43 and then served as its first commanding officer from March 1951 to January 1952.

[6] Harlfinger next served as director of Command Support Programs in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations until his retirement in March 1974.

[3] His promotion to vice admiral was approved by the Senate on October 7, 1971[7] and he received a Navy Distinguished Service Medal for this final assignment.

[8] She was the daughter of Clarke Blance (September 30, 1886 – October 9, 1954), a U.S. Army Medical Corps physician who served during both World War I and II[9] and retired as a colonel in 1947.