World War II Honoree

Elmer Heindl

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Rochester, New York

Honored By

Grateful American

ONE OF THE MOST HIGHLY DECORATED CHAPLAINS IN WWII, HE ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AS A CHAPLAIN IN 1942. WAS AWARDED A SILVER STAR AND A BRONZE STAR FOR MINISTERING TO WAR WOUNDED WHILE UNDER JAPANESE FIRE IN BOTH THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS AND THE SOLOMON ISLANDS. THE ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST LATER RECEIVED A DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS, THE NATION'S SECOND HIGHEST COMBAT MEDAL, FOR HIS EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION UNDER HEAVY MACHINE GUN FIRE DURING STREET FIGHTING IN MANILA IN 1945. HE ENTERED A PRISON WATCHTOWER UNDER JAPANESE FIRE TO OFFER PRAYERS FOR A DYING SOLDIER, THEN TOOK THE BODY OUT. HE RETURNED TO THE TOWER TO CARRY A WOUNDED MAN TO SAFETY. TWO DAYS LATER, HE CRAWLED THROUGH ENEMY ROCKET FIRE TO DRAG A WOUNDED OFFICER TO AN AID STATION AND ALSO CARRIED OTHER CASUALTIES TO SAFETY AND ADMINISTERED LAST RITES TO THE DYING.