Elmer Heindl grew up in Rochester, New York, attended Saint Andrews Preparatory Seminary, and was ordained a Catholic Priest on June 6, 1936. He subsequently served as assistant pastor of Saint Andrews in Rochester until 1942, when he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was commissioned a chaplain. Deployed to the Pacific Theater of Operations, he spent 38 months of overseas service, earning a Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, and Bronze Star. After the war he served a parish in Greece; Saint Andrew and Saint Mary Churches in Rochester; and Holy Trinity in Webster; and Saint Theodore in Gates. He also participated on missions to Genoa and Fleming, New York. He retired in 1980 and served with the Monroe County Veterans of Foreign Wars in Monroe County, and on the Monroe County Veterans Advisory Committee, which in 1991 awarded him the Veterans Advocate of the Year award. In March 2006 he was living in a nursing home and fell in the shower, laying in hot water for an unknown length of time. He suffered sever burns and died of his injuries in that unfortunate incident.
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Cemetery:
Awards Received
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Distinguished Service Cross
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Silver Star
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Distinguished Service Cross
Service:
United States ArmyRank:
Captain (Chaplain’s Corps)Batallion:
2d BattalionRegiment:
148th Infantry RegimentDivision:
37th Infantry DivisionAction Date:
February 6, 8, & 11, 1945
Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces in the Far East, General Orders No. 123 (May 21, 1945)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Captain (Chaplain’s Corps) Elmer William Heindl (ASN: 0-439444), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Chaplain with Company E, 2d Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 6, 8 and 11 February 1945, in the Philippine Islands. During the assault on the Bilibid Prison in Manila on 6 February, Chaplain Heindl learned that a soldier lay critically wounded on the top floor of a two-story watch tower under enemy fire. Accompanied by a medical aid-man he entered the tower and climbed to the wounded soldier, who was bleeding profusely and obviously had but a few moments to live. Fully aware that enemy machine guns were trained on the tower, Chaplain Heindl calmly knelt and offered prayers for the dying man. He then carried the body down the ladder and away from the tower. Entering the tower once more, he carried out a second man who lay wounded on the first floor, and under enemy fire helped to carry him to an aid station. On 8 February when his unit was under enemy mortar and rocket fire, Chaplain Heindl observed an officer who was seriously wounded. Without hesitation he left his foxhole, crawled to the officer and dragged him to an aid station. On 11 February when nine men were killed and others wounded during an engagement, he dragged the wounded under fire to comparative safety and administered last rites for the dying. Through his extraordinary heroism and firm faith in the face of all danger, Chaplain Heindl proved himself worthy of the highest tradition of his Church and his military service. His extraordinary heroism, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 37th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.
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Silver Star
Service:
United States ArmyRank:
Captain (Chaplain’s Corps)Batallion:
2d BattalionRegiment:
148th Infantry RegimentDivision:
37th Infantry DivisionAction Date:
April 17 & 25, 1945
Headquarters, 37th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 186 (July 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) Elmer W. Heindl (ASN: 0-439444), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving as Chaplain with Company E, 2d Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces at Luzon, Philippine Islands. On 17 April 1945, during the campaign for Baguio, Captain Heindl, Chaplain of an Infantry Regiment, was forward with advance units of a rifle company, when the entire column was attacked by two enemy tanks driving around a hairpin curve in the mountains. In the point-blank firefight which ensured, many of our forces were wounded, but despite the continued attack, Chaplain Heindl went from one to another of the wounded to administer first aid and assist in their evacuation. A heavy Japanese mortar concentration registered on the area causing still more casualties. However, Chaplain Heindl remained with his patients. On 25 April 1945 Chaplain Heindl rendered similar service to the wounded during an intense mortar barrage. Leaving his place of cover he gave aid and consolation to the wounded men and helped in their evacuation. Through his determination to remain in the shell-struck area, Chaplain Heindl influenced others to come to the aid of the fallen and was instrumental in the safe evacuation of many wounded men. His exemplary courage and fearless devotion to the welfare of all men earned for him the fullest praise and admiration of all. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.