SGT Elliott Arthur Salin

courtesy of M. Wincott

SGT Elliott Arthur Salin was born Elliott Arthur Salinsky on 19 May 1918 in New York City, New York. He was the youngest of the 3 children born to Michael Harris and Edith (Proops) Salinsky. His father worked in the manufacture of footwear (shoes and slippers). The family lived at 701 St. Nicholas Street and 17 167th Street to name just 2 of what were probably many homes they occupied. Sister, Leah Salinsky, died at age 19 in 1932. Elliott's mother died in 1934 and by 1940 his father had re-married and moved to Dudley, Massachusetts. Elliott managed to attend at least 1 year of college and also began working for a manufacturer rising to a foreman position.

Elliott was also living in Massachusetts when he was drafted in February 1942. After his basic military training he was sent to England and assigned to Cannon Company 116th Infantry. He trained for the amphibious landing that took place on 6 Jun 1944 and in which he took part as a CPL. He was promoted to SGT on 20 Jun 1944 and fought with the unit through the drive to Saint-Lo, Vire, the capture of Brest and at Aachen. SGT Salin was killed in action on 20 Nov 1944 in the vicinity of Setterich, Germany. SGT Salin was awarded the Silver Star but we do not have details of the award at this time.

SGT Salin was repatriated and re-interred in the Montefiore Cemetery in Springfield Gardens, New York where is name is once again recorded as Salinsky and rests forever with other family members.

Note: We do not know why Elliott was enlisted under the name "Salin". His older brother Stanley also used that name. It may have been related to a desire to avoid being identified as a Jew if captured by the Germans or it might have simply been an attempt to Anglicize the family name to assimilate.