Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
Paul
Hilding
Elmen
1913-06-04

–

1999-07-13

Born:

Lowell

, 

Massachusetts

Home:

Lowell

, 

Massachusetts

Buried: 

Pomfret Center

, 

Connecticut

Cemetery:

Christ Episcopal Church Cemetery

The son of a minister, Paul Elmen was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, but spent time in his late youth in Chicago, Illinois, where his father was pastoring. He graduated from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, in 1933. He was ordained a Congregationalist minister and served as pastor of the Swedish Evangelical Mission Church in Lowell in 1942, and then at the Covenant Congregational Church. His wife was a teacher for the local high school. Paul Elmen was also continuing studies at Harvard graduate school in 1943, when he enlisted for military service. He went overseas in 1944 as a member of the THIRD Army’s 6th Armored Division. Following his war service, which resulted in amputation of a foot, he continued in ministry and became a Theological professor.

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Captain (Chaplain’s Corps)

    Division:

    6th Armored Division

    Action Date:

    March 16, 1945
    Headquarters, 6th Armored Division, General Orders No. 55 (March 20, 1945)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Chaplain’s Corps) Paul Hilding Elmen (ASN: 0-528067), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving as a Chaplain with an artillery unit with Headquarters, 6th Armored Division, in the vicinity of Ouderkirch, France, on 16 March 1945. With complete disregard for his own safety, Chaplain Elmen braved the danger of an enemy antipersonnel mine field to render medical and spiritual aid to an officer and three enlisted men. Although he suffered the loss of one of his feet, the comfort and welfare of the other injured personnel remained uppermost in his mind. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Chaplain Elmen, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.