World War II Honoree

Eugene Elzufon

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Brooklyn, New York

Honored By

Risa Salsburg and Family

Relationship

Grandniece

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS, SERVED AS A RIFLEMAN IN THE 100TH INFANTRY DIVISION, WHICH WAS PART OF THE U.S. SEVENTH ARMY. MEMBER OF 'B' COMPANY, 398TH INFANTRY. SERVED IN FRANCE IN THE VOSGES MOUNTAINS OF ALSACE, DURING LIBERATION OF THAT AREA AND THE CITY OF STRASBOURG BY THE SEVENTH ARMY. WITH FALL OF STRASBOURG, THE DIVISION WAS SHIFTED NORTH TO LORRAINE AND ORDERED TO TAKE THE FORTRESS TOWN OF BITCHE. IN THE FIRST DAY OF THE ASSAULT, ON 14 DECEMBER 1944, HE WAS WOUNDED AS THEY BEGAN TO ATTACK THE FIRST OF MANY STILL FUNCTIONING PARTS OF THE FRENCH MAGINOT LINE. INITIALLY HOSPITALIZED IN FRANCE BUT ON 25 DECEMBER TRANSFERRED TO ENGLAND. RECOVERED FROM WOUNDS AND RETURNED TO ACTION ON 12 APRIL 1945 (THE DAY PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT DIED). PARTICIPATED IN THE LAST DAYS OF FIGHTING AROUND HEILBRON AND THEN TOOK PART IN THE PURSUIT OF THE GERMAN ARMY TOWARDS SOUTHERN GERMANY AND AUSTRIA. DIVISION PULLED FROM LINE SHORTLY BEFORE MAY 8TH (V-E DAY). HE SPENT THE REMAINDER OF HIS TIME IN EUROPE, AS PART OF THE OCCUPATION ARMY IN AND AROUND HEIDELBERG AND STUTTGART, WAITING FOR ROOM ON A BOAT SO THAT HE COULD GO HOME, WHICH HE DID ON 1 APRIL 1946. HE RECEIVED A BRONZE STAR AND PURPLE HEART.