Elmer H. Salzman
Elmer Henry Salzman | |
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Battles/wars | Nicaraguan Campaign Haitian Campaign World War II
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Awards | Navy Cross Legion of Merit (3) Bronze Star Medal |
Elmer Henry Salzman (June 12, 1902 – September 24, 1958) was a highly decorated officer in the
with 2nd Marine Brigade.Early years
Salzman was born on June 12, 1902, in Louis Corners, Wisconsin, and attended elementary school there. He graduated from Kiel High School in 1920, about five miles west of Louis Corners. He then received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, in 1922. During his years at the academy, Salzman competed in track and finally graduated on June 3, 1926. Many of his classmates were later promoted to the general officer ranks: Edward W. Snedeker, Thomas A. Wornham, Arthur H. Butler, Roy M. Gulick, Russell N. Jordahl, Nels H. Nelson, Kenneth W. Benner, Hartnoll J. Withers, James S. Russell, Laurence H. Frost, C. Wade McClusky, Robert B. Pirie, Charles L. Carpenter, Tom Hamilton or Henry C. Bruton.
Following his commissioning as second lieutenant in the Marine Corps, Salzman was attached to the 2nd Marine Brigade under Brigadier General Logan Feland and ordered for his first expeditionary duty to Nicaragua. Marines were ordered to Nicaragua to support the Guardia Nacional in the fight with rebel bandits under Augusto César Sandino.[1]
Salzman led a patrol in the vicinity of village Zapote in
Upon his return to the States, Salzman applied for naval aviation training and after completion of his course at
World War II
Salzman was appointed an instructor at
Following the Japanese
He reached the rank of
At the end of March 1944, Salzman was ordered back to the United States and after brief reunion with his wife and kids, he was appointed chief of staff, Marine Air, West Coast with headquarters in San Diego in May of that year.
Colonel Salzman was later transferred to the staff of
Retirement
He retired in 1949 as a
In 1928, Salzman received the
His award citation reads:
- The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Second Lieutenant Elmer Henry Salzman (MCSN: 0-4074), United States Marine Corps, for distinguished service in the line of his profession as commander of a patrol of the Second Brigade, U.S. Marine Corps, operating in the vicinity of Zapote, Nueva Segovia, Nicaragua on 28 September 1928. Second Lieutenant Salzman's command surprised a greatly superior bandit force under the command of General Salgado by a well planned attack on its rear which resulted in the rout of the bandits. The arrival of the Force of Second Lieutenant Salzman was particularly fortuitous as the bandits had another small patrol of Marines at a great disadvantage and it appeared that they must inevitably suffer a disastrous defeat. Although the bandits outnumbered the combined patrols more than two-to-one, Second Lieutenant Salzman displayed such courage, skill and leadership in conducting the engagement that the bandits were decisively defeated and the beleaguered patrol rescued from its perilous position.[2]
References
- ^ a b "Coronado Eagle and Journal, Number 20, 18 May 1944". cdnc.ucr.edu. Coronado Eagle and Journal Websites. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
- ^ a b c d "Valor awards for Elmer H. Salzman". valor.militarytimes.com. Militarytimes Websites. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
- ^ "Coronado Eagle and Journal, Number 33, 17 August 1944". cdnc.ucr.edu. Coronado Eagle and Journal Websites. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
- ^ "US Marine Corps in World War II – HyperWar (Okinawa)". ibiblio.org. HyperWar Websites. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
- ^ Obituary of Helen from USNA website
- ^ "Salzman, Elmer Henry". ANC Explorer. Arlington National Cemetery. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.