Henry Paul Elias was born on June 1, 1919 in Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, South Carolina. He was the son of Alexander Elias and Jessie Hodge Elias. Henry served in the US Air Corps as a Lieutenant and Pilot of an aircraft during World War II. He was credited with destroying 4 enemy aircraft in aerial combat, including 1 on the day of his death. After he and others destroyed some enemy riverboats, he engaged 4 Zeroes, was shot down, bailed out, and was killed by being strafed by the Japanese pilots.

Henry died on September 2, 1942 at the age of 23 in China and is now buried in the West Oakwood Cemetery, Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, South Carolina, USA. He was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He is commemorated on the The Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Nanjing, China.