Rev. Elmer Heindl, 96, was a Roman Catholic Priest. He was one of the most highly decorated chaplains in WWII.
Born in Rochester, New York, on June 14th, 1910. He enlisted in the army in 1942. The Reverend Elmer, was awarded a Silver Star, and Bronze Star, for ministering to war wounded while under Japanese fire in both the Philippines and the Solomon Islands.
He received a Distinguished Service Cross, our nation's second highest combat medal, for his "extraordinary heroism in action" under heavy machine-gun fire during street fighting in Manila in 1945.
Newspaper accounts of that year reported Heindl, entered a prison watchtower under Japanese fire to offer prayers for a dying soldier, then took the body out. He returned to that tower to carry back a wounded man to safety.
Two days later Heindl crawled through enemy rocket and mortar fire to drag a wounded officer to an aid station and also carried other casualties to safety and administered last rites to the dying. He never carried a gun.
He was living in a nursing home and fell in a shower. He suffered burns while lying in hot water for an unknown length of time. Rev. Heindl, died at the Strong Memorial Hospital, burn unit from his injuries, in Rochester, N.Y.
Memorial services were held on Thursday, July 20th at the Vay-Schleich & Meeson funeral home.A Prayer Service was held at St. Charles Borromeo Church, followed by a Funeral Mass. He was buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Rochester, N.Y. with full Military Honors.
Born in Rochester, New York, on June 14th, 1910. He enlisted in the army in 1942. The Reverend Elmer, was awarded a Silver Star, and Bronze Star, for ministering to war wounded while under Japanese fire in both the Philippines and the Solomon Islands.
He received a Distinguished Service Cross, our nation's second highest combat medal, for his "extraordinary heroism in action" under heavy machine-gun fire during street fighting in Manila in 1945.
Newspaper accounts of that year reported Heindl, entered a prison watchtower under Japanese fire to offer prayers for a dying soldier, then took the body out. He returned to that tower to carry back a wounded man to safety.
Two days later Heindl crawled through enemy rocket and mortar fire to drag a wounded officer to an aid station and also carried other casualties to safety and administered last rites to the dying. He never carried a gun.
He was living in a nursing home and fell in a shower. He suffered burns while lying in hot water for an unknown length of time. Rev. Heindl, died at the Strong Memorial Hospital, burn unit from his injuries, in Rochester, N.Y.
Memorial services were held on Thursday, July 20th at the Vay-Schleich & Meeson funeral home.A Prayer Service was held at St. Charles Borromeo Church, followed by a Funeral Mass. He was buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Rochester, N.Y. with full Military Honors.
Rev. Elmer Heindl, 96, was a Roman Catholic Priest. He was one of the most highly decorated chaplains in WWII.
Born in Rochester, New York, on June 14th, 1910. He enlisted in the army in 1942. The Reverend Elmer, was awarded a Silver Star, and Bronze Star, for ministering to war wounded while under Japanese fire in both the Philippines and the Solomon Islands.
He received a Distinguished Service Cross, our nation's second highest combat medal, for his "extraordinary heroism in action" under heavy machine-gun fire during street fighting in Manila in 1945.
Newspaper accounts of that year reported Heindl, entered a prison watchtower under Japanese fire to offer prayers for a dying soldier, then took the body out. He returned to that tower to carry back a wounded man to safety.
Two days later Heindl crawled through enemy rocket and mortar fire to drag a wounded officer to an aid station and also carried other casualties to safety and administered last rites to the dying. He never carried a gun.
He was living in a nursing home and fell in a shower. He suffered burns while lying in hot water for an unknown length of time. Rev. Heindl, died at the Strong Memorial Hospital, burn unit from his injuries, in Rochester, N.Y.
Memorial services were held on Thursday, July 20th at the Vay-Schleich & Meeson funeral home.A Prayer Service was held at St. Charles Borromeo Church, followed by a Funeral Mass. He was buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Rochester, N.Y. with full Military Honors.
Born in Rochester, New York, on June 14th, 1910. He enlisted in the army in 1942. The Reverend Elmer, was awarded a Silver Star, and Bronze Star, for ministering to war wounded while under Japanese fire in both the Philippines and the Solomon Islands.
He received a Distinguished Service Cross, our nation's second highest combat medal, for his "extraordinary heroism in action" under heavy machine-gun fire during street fighting in Manila in 1945.
Newspaper accounts of that year reported Heindl, entered a prison watchtower under Japanese fire to offer prayers for a dying soldier, then took the body out. He returned to that tower to carry back a wounded man to safety.
Two days later Heindl crawled through enemy rocket and mortar fire to drag a wounded officer to an aid station and also carried other casualties to safety and administered last rites to the dying. He never carried a gun.
He was living in a nursing home and fell in a shower. He suffered burns while lying in hot water for an unknown length of time. Rev. Heindl, died at the Strong Memorial Hospital, burn unit from his injuries, in Rochester, N.Y.
Memorial services were held on Thursday, July 20th at the Vay-Schleich & Meeson funeral home.A Prayer Service was held at St. Charles Borromeo Church, followed by a Funeral Mass. He was buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Rochester, N.Y. with full Military Honors.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
