World War II Honoree

August Louis Elsener

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Covington, Kentucky

Honored By

Donna Elsener Whalen

Relationship

Daughter

Drafted in 1943. First assignment, Camp Robinson, Little Rock, Arkansas- 105th Medical Battalion. Second assignment, Denver Colorado- 999th Medical Replacement Center. Assigned to the H.M.S Franconia in January 1944 (14 round trips from England to France). Returned to NYC, New York on the H.M.S Mauritania. Third Assignment, Officers Port Dispensary on the Brooklyn Army Base. Returned to France on the H.M.S Lusitania (the war had ended). Made 3 trips to South Hampton and then traveled to Le Harve, France. Returned to NYC, New York on the M.V. Vulcania. Discharged in 1946 with the rank of T4. "Of all of the trips, passing the Statue of Liberty was the most moving experience. All of the GIs were on the port side of the ship. The ship was listing from the weight. The Captains would plea from some to move to the starboard side, but NO ONE was going to miss seeing the Statue of Liberty. The Captain had to suffer with his ship listing into port. The GI's were on their way home. Many of them asked me what I was going to do, and I said I was staying on the ship and going back to France. To them, this was the worst thing that could happen to anyone. The trip up the Hudson River to port was awesome. The shower of confetti, ticker tape, the bands playing, and people cheering from all of the building windows was unbelievable. I was discharged in 1946 with the rank of T4 and returned to a civilian pharmacy."