Seeking information on the 159th Engineer Combat Battalion that served in Europe and inparticular the Battle of the Budge.

Two of my uncles served in WW-II during the Battle of the Buldg.  One uncle was in radio contact with his brother PFC Neil Elmeier when the radio went silent due to Neil’s company being captured by the Germans.  Neil and fellow  POWs were executed by the Germans when they retreated east due to the approaching Allies.  Neil is buried at the American Cemetery at Luxembourg.  Neal is a Purple Heart recipient.  I have been trying to locate his Army service record informatiom.  However, the Army Historical Record Center in St Louis, MO indicates no record exists due to most likely being destroyed in a fire at that sight in the mid 1970.  Neil served in 159th Engineer Combat Battalion.  His service number 33689155.

I am see,ing any information available to reconstruct his Army service.

Respectfully,

Louis Kobet

Commander, US Navy Retired

Parents
  • The 159th Engineer Combat Battalion written by William W. Baltz and published in 1945 and reissued in 1989, is an 84-page book about the unit.  Unfortunately, WorldCat shows only 4 copies available in the US.  If you are not near any of the libraries listed below, you may try the interlibrary loan service at your local library.

    Allen County Public Library
    900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN, 46802, United States

    US Army War College
    651 WRIGHT AVENUE, Carlisle, PA, 17013, United States

    New York Public Library 
    Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, New York, NY, 10018-2788, United States

    United States Military Academy
    USMA Library
    Jefferson Hall, 758 Cullum Road, West Point, NY, 10996-1711, United States

    You may request PFC Elmeier's  Individual Deceased Personnel File from:

    National Archives & Records Administration
    ATTN: Archival Programs
    P.O. Box 38757
    St. Louis, MO 63138

    Stl.archives@nara.gov

    Provide as much of the following information as possible:

    • Full name of service member
    • Service number
    • Dates of service
    • Date and place of death

    Below is an interesting newspaper story regarding your uncle:

Reply
  • The 159th Engineer Combat Battalion written by William W. Baltz and published in 1945 and reissued in 1989, is an 84-page book about the unit.  Unfortunately, WorldCat shows only 4 copies available in the US.  If you are not near any of the libraries listed below, you may try the interlibrary loan service at your local library.

    Allen County Public Library
    900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN, 46802, United States

    US Army War College
    651 WRIGHT AVENUE, Carlisle, PA, 17013, United States

    New York Public Library 
    Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, New York, NY, 10018-2788, United States

    United States Military Academy
    USMA Library
    Jefferson Hall, 758 Cullum Road, West Point, NY, 10996-1711, United States

    You may request PFC Elmeier's  Individual Deceased Personnel File from:

    National Archives & Records Administration
    ATTN: Archival Programs
    P.O. Box 38757
    St. Louis, MO 63138

    Stl.archives@nara.gov

    Provide as much of the following information as possible:

    • Full name of service member
    • Service number
    • Dates of service
    • Date and place of death

    Below is an interesting newspaper story regarding your uncle:

Children
  • This is very excellent on your part.   Since the National Personal Records Center on St. Louis indicated PFC Neil Elmeier records were destroyed in the 1973 fire I have submitted request to have him added to the Purple Heart Hall of Honor database.  

    I would be interested in other information that you have since it is of public record.  Briefly describe without going into detail and I will get back to you.