2LT Elmer Raymond Koontz

courtesy of Nancy Ann Mull Buchanan

2LT Elmer Raymond Koontz was born 7 Feb 1920 in Detroit, Michigan to Locke E. and Nellie Katherine (Hill) Koontz.  His father worked as an assembler in an auto factory. In 1940, Elmer was living with his maternal grandmother and working as a shipping clerk with a reported 1939 income of $900.  Elmer married Fern Elizabeth Black in early 1942 and the couple were living in Huntington, West Virginia.

Elmer was drafted in June 1942.  After initial training he was identified as a candidate for officer training which he attended.  2LT Koontz was sent to Europe and on 24 Oct 1944 was transferred from the replacement depot to G Company 116th Infantry to serve as a platoon leader. 2LT Koontz was killed in action on 25 Nov 1944.

2LT Koontz was repatriated and now rests forever in Wilson Cemetery in Newark, Ohio. He and Fern had no children and she re-married in 1947 to Glenn Edward Werts, a career Navy Warrant Officer.  They have passed on and are buried together in Arlington National Cemetery.