Elmer B. Heath and his twin brother, Delmar Ray, were the 1st born children of Scott and Nora Heath. Nestled in the foothills of southwest Virginia, in a small community near Chilhowie, VA, they were part of a close knit farming family, surrounded by the beauty of nature and the simple life of that day.

They survived the great depression by raising their own food and were somewhat protected from the evils of the world by the serenity of their family and friends. Through the years, their family increased and eventually included the boys Elmer & Delmar Ray, Roy, Marvin, Cecil and Ernest and the girls Anna James, Hazel and Dorothy. By this time, the country was embarking on the greatest war of all time, but they had no idea of the impact this would have on their family.

In 1939, Elmer married Virginia Jones, and in 1941, they were blessed with their 1st child, a daughter, Nancy. While struggling with the war-ravaged economy, he was making their living by whatever was available at the time. In 1943, the 2nd daughter, Helen was born. By this time the war had accelerated and his imminent induction into the Army loomed on the horizon.

Like the men of his day, he accepted the call in May of 1944, with no complaints, even though his heart remained at home with his family. He was inducted at Fort George Meade, MD, and went through his Basic Training at Camp Wheeler in Georgia, hoping against hope that the war would end before he had to go across the sea.

When he found that was not to be the case, he shipped out in October of 1944, accepting his duty with the bravery and honourable commitment of the men of his day. Elmer most probably sailed to Europe on October 12, 1944 aboard the Queen Mary. Shipping reports of WWII troopships show this as the only transport of replacements in October of that year. Elmer embarked on the Queen Mary in New York and disembarked on October 18, 1944 in Gourock, Scotland.

After arriving in Europe Elmer was assigned to the 47th Infantry, 9th Division, Company A. By the time Elmer arrived in Scotland, the allied advance in Europe proceeded rapidly. Elmer most probably was taken to Southampton by train and shipped to Le Havre, France on December 11, 1944 aboard the troopship Monrovia. The Monrovia arrived at Le Havre December 14, 1944 disembarking many troops for many different Divisions who were only days away from the last major German counter-offensive, the Battle of the Bulge.

By the time Elmer was assigned to the 9th Infantry Division, the division had already seen a tremendous amount of fighting. After two years of intensive training the 9th Division was combat ready by the fall of 1942 and was redesignated the 9th Infantry Division. The division was divided into three Regimental Combat Teams (RCTs); the 39th RCT, 47th RCT and 60th RCT. The division saw a lot of combat in Northern Africa and Europe during the war. It was after the divisions performance during the Battle of the Bulge that it was nicknamed "the Old Reliable". The division fought in the following WWII Campaigns:

Algeria-French Morocco (8 - 11 Nov 1942)
Tunisia (7 Nov 1942 - 13 May 1943)
Sicily (9 Jul - 17 Aug 1943)
Normandy (6 Jun - 24 Jul 1944)
Northern France (25 Jul - 14 Sep 1944)
Rhineland (15 Sep 1944 - 21 Mar 1945)
Ardennes-Alsace (16 Dec 1944 - 25 Jan 1945)
Central Europe (22 Mar - 11 May 1945)

Elmer most probably was sent to the front immediately when the Germans caught the Allies by surpise on December 16, 1944. This last major German counter-offensive took place in the Belgian forests of the Ardennes. US Divisions who thought they were on rest, were taken by surprise and overrun in the first hours of the battle. Complete regiments were wiped from the map. Many US soldiers were captured and many of these men awaited a horrible fate near Malmedy. Some German veterans later stated that they were told that they would fight new troops, so called "Battle-babies" ... The German veterans stated that they were surprised by the will and capability of these young American soldiers. In spite of heavy losses these first actions delayed the Germans and eventually contributed in the German failure of the Bulge-offensive ...

Through the letters that were saved, Elmer's daughters Helen and Nancy came to know the softness of this man that proved through the test of time to be so strong. In all of his letters home, Elmer was more concerned about his brothers than he was of himself. His three brothers were serving in the war at this same time. Marvin was in the Pacific Campaign and Delmar and Roy were in the European Campaign. Even though he hoped against hope that he would be able to see the two who were in Europe, that did not happen ... Delmar Ray, Roy and Marvin made it all back home ...

In November and December of 1944 "the Old Reliable" held defensive positions from Monschau to Losheim. Moving north to Bergrath, Germany, it launched an attack toward the Roer, 10 December 1944, taking Echtz and Schlich. From mid-December through January 1945, the Division held defensive positions from Kalterherberg to Elsenborn. From there on, on January 30, 1945 the Division jumped off from Monschau in a drive across the Roer and to Rhine, crossing at Remagen, on March 7, 1945. The famous Luddendorf Bridge at Remagen had been taken intact by the 9th Armored Division and a bridgehead was quickly established... The following objective of the division was breaking out of the Remagen bridgehead and sealing and clearing the Ruhr Pocket ...

On March 7, 1945, Elmer's unit was ordered to the Ludendorff Bridge over the Rhine. Early on March 8th, the 2nd Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment arrived and immediately crossed the river. These units passed through Orsberg and attacked toward Bruchhausen where eventually all resistance was overcome. It was during this fierce battle that Elmer and many other brave soldiers lost their lives ...

Elmer was killed in action on March 9th, 1945 in Bruchhausen Germany, which is a small town just on the other side of the Luddendorf Bridge, near Remagen. This battle was one of the major turning points of the war. History relates that this battle was one of the most important for the Allied Forces in accomplishing their mission to defeat the Germans. During the war the forests surrounding Bruchhausen were used by the Germans to launch the V-1 ... Elmer and the others gave their lives, but they silenced this weapon of terror.

Elmer's wife, Virginia, was notified of his death on March 21, 1945, which was 11 days after he fell. At that time Nancy was 3 1/2 years and Helen was 17 months old. They grew up in the small rural community of Chilhowie, Virginia, and later moved to Marion, VA. They were taught to respect and love the father they never knew, who was always their "Hero". Virginia gave them the greatest gift she possibly could by keeping her girls in constant contact with their grandparents and aunts and uncles. Nancy and Helen and their families have experienced the love and companionship of their father thru his family. That is truly a gift that cannot be measured and will live on through generations.

Virginia departed this life on April 20, 2000 after devoting her entire live to her children and keeping the memory of their father alive for them. They are now blessed with the next generation of 7 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren who share in the mission of forever keeping the memory of the fallen hero alive.

Helen decided to ask her aunts and uncles, Elmer's siblings, to give her some of their most treasured memories of their brother Elmer. His twin Delmar Ray only stated that his deepest memory is when they were being inducted into the army that my father Elmer urged him to try to get assigned to some unit other than the one he was in because he felt it was so dangerous. I think Delmar credits Elmer with saving him from the same fate.

Elmer's sister, Anna James, remembers more personal things, like when Virginia was expecting Nancy she stayed with them to help out because Virginia was so sick. She said every time Elmer came into the house and she had prepared supper he would put his arms around her and tell her how much he appreciated her help. She also remembers very vividly when she and Virginia took me and Nancy to visit Elmer when he was stationed in Georgia during his basic training ...

They had never travelled anywhere by train and they were so scared. She said Elmer was able to stay with us the whole time and it was a wonderful time. Nancy and I can remember our mother sharing this story with us as well. She also remembers spending week ends with the little family when they lived in a little village called Mill Creek. They were a very close knit family and Anna James and Virginia were close friends as well as sisters in law.

Nancy and Helen and their husbands considered themselves privileged to be part of the Wreath Laying Service at Henri-Chapelle in May of 2006. This special honor will forever be remembered as a highlight of their life ...

These days Elmer Heath rests in the beautiful American Military Cemetery at Henri-Chapelle ... He's remembered and honored by his daughters Helen & Nancy, by his brothers & sisters, by the American War Orphans Network (AWON), by everyone who visits the Henri-Chapelle cemetery and by every visitor of the In Honored Glory website.

Special thanks to Elmer's daughters Helen & Nancy,
to his brothers & sister and the entire family.