Elmer B. Heath

Elmer B. Heath

Elmer and his beloved wife Virginia

In 1939, Elmer married Virginia Jones and in 1941, their first child was born : Nancy. In 1943, the second daughter was born : Helen. At this time, the United States were at war since December 7th 1941, and like every young men of his age, Elmer accepted without complain to serve his great country. He was inducted at Fort George Meade, MD, on May 30th 1944, just few days before the Normandy landings, and went through his Basic Training at Camp Wheeler in Georgia.

He shipped out in October 1944 to Europe, to arrive in Gourock, Scotland, on October 18th. By the time he arrived in Scotland, the Allied were struggling along the German border. After the Normandy success, and the liberation of Northern France and Belgium, the U.S. Army was now fighting hard in the Hürtgen Forest, in the vicinity of Aachen. Elmer arrived along the front line around mid-December 1944, few days before the German launched their last attempt to breakthrough the American lines : the Battle of the Bulge started. He was assigned to Able Company, 47th Infantry Regiment, and at that time, his fellow comrades were fighting in Germany near Düren, to cross the Roer River.

Elmer went thru the whole Battle of the Bulge, and in early March 1945, the division crossed the Rhine River on the famous Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen. The following objectif assigned to the 9th Infantry Division was to break the Remagen bridgehead and sealing and clearing the Ruhr Pocket. On March 8th, the 47th Infantry Regiment passed through Orsberg and attacked toward Bruchhausen where eventually all resistance was overcome. It was during that battle that Elmer and many other brave soldiers lost their lives. Elmer was killed in action at 1500hrs on March 9th, 1945 in Bruchhausen, Germany, during the battle of Remagen that has been well-known thank to the movie ‘A bridge at Remagen’ (1969).

Heath, out of Basic Training before shipping up to Europe

Nancy (left), Elmer (center) and Helen (right)

Virginia Heath was notified Elmer’s death on March 21st, 1945. At that time, Helen and Nancy were 3 years and 17 months old. Elmer was buried in Henri-Chapelle American Military Cemetery in Belgium, on March 14th, 1945, where he still rests. Virginia passed on April 20th, 2000, after devoting her entire life to her daughters, and keeping the memory of their father alive. She never remarried. Helen and Nancy also devoted their entire lives to keep the memory of their father alive. They come regularly in Europe to honor their father and the fallen in Henri-Chapelle, Belgium, and they are very active in preserving the history of the men of the 9th Infantry Division.

May Pfc Elmer B. Heath rest in peace. His sacrifice will always be remembered along those made by his comrades. Thank you for your service, thank you for my freedom.