Anthony Albert Elder (1923-6 June 1944) was a US Army private who served with the US 101st Airborne Division during World War II. Elder was killed during the Brecourt Manor Assault in 1944 while fighting alongside the paratroopers of his US 506th Infantry Regiment.
Biography
Elder after being shot
Anthony Albert Elder was born in Los Angeles, California in 1923, and he was drafted into the US Army during World War II. Elder was assigned to the US 506th Infantry Regiment of the US 101st Airborne Division, and he was trained at Camp Toccoa, Georgia in 1942. Elder and his regiment were dropped over Normandy, France in June 1944 during Operation Overlord, fighting alongside a mixed unit of paratroopers. On 6 June 1944, he fought in the Battle of Sainte-Mere-Eglise, and he volunteered to assist Sgt. Gregory Moody and Pvt. Martin with heading back to headquarters along the N13 highway, engaging in skirmishes with the Germans. He took part in the Brecourt Manor Assault after they were assigned a new mission, and he was killed by a German machine-gunner in the ensuing battle. Elder, who was known as a funny soldier to his comrades and an annoying and reluctant soldier to Sgt. Moody, was mourned by his surviving squad mates.