He was the son of Anton Raymond Koehler and Grace Velma Jack. He married Ruby Hood in Platte City, Missouri, in August 1940. He was a graduate of Atchison High School, and had played on the local baseball teams during and after his school years. After high school, he attended Wesleyan University in Salina, Kansas.
He was serving in the National Guard before being activated in December 1940. He graduated from paratrooper's school in Fort Benning, GA, on October 24, 1942 and was promoted to Lieutenant on December 1, 1942. Elmo and Ruby had a son, Roy Anton "Tony" in February 1943, while stationed at Fort Benning. Prior to being sent overseas, Elmo was stationed in several states in the U.S. and Ruby tried to travel to be with him as much as possible. A few years ago, an old friend of Elmo's sent us pictures of him, Ruby and some of his service buddies in Hot Springs Arkansas, and in California. It was nice to see that time in his life.
Elmo spent some time in England for additional training, before the troop invasion into Normandy France on June 5, 1944. During Operation Neptune, June 6, 1944 Lt Koehler parachuted from his C47 Troop Transport plane with Tail#4223332/Chalk#16/jump-master. Records indicate he was wounded on June 9, 1944, and died of his wounds on June 17th.
Lt Koehler was interred at the Normandy American Cemetery, but on November 7, 1948 was re-interred at the Oak Hill Cemetery, Atchison, Kansas. Family members had said that he was shot while parachuting into France, but records indicate that he was wounded on June 9th. His place of death was listed as Cherbourg, Manche, Basse-Normandie. He was interred in the Normandy American Cemetery in Omaha Beach, Colleville-Sur-Mer, France. After the war, the family requested his remains be returned home. He was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Atchison, Kansas, on November 7, 1948. His parents were later buried next to him, as was his son, Tony, upon his death in 1999. His widow, Ruby, had remarried October 5, 1946, to Albert Hinz. Ruby and Albert are buried in the Lancaster Cemetery, Lancaster, Atchison Co., Kansas.
Lt Koehler was awarded the Purple Heart Medal, Croix De Guerre [French] European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star and Arrowhead,WW2 Victory Medal,WW2 Honorable Service Lapel Button, Parachute Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, Presidential Distinguished Unit Emblem.
Home of Record: Atchison, Atchison County, Kansas
Died of Wounds
He was serving in the National Guard before being activated in December 1940. He graduated from paratrooper's school in Fort Benning, GA, on October 24, 1942 and was promoted to Lieutenant on December 1, 1942. Elmo and Ruby had a son, Roy Anton "Tony" in February 1943, while stationed at Fort Benning. Prior to being sent overseas, Elmo was stationed in several states in the U.S. and Ruby tried to travel to be with him as much as possible. A few years ago, an old friend of Elmo's sent us pictures of him, Ruby and some of his service buddies in Hot Springs Arkansas, and in California. It was nice to see that time in his life.
Elmo spent some time in England for additional training, before the troop invasion into Normandy France on June 5, 1944. During Operation Neptune, June 6, 1944 Lt Koehler parachuted from his C47 Troop Transport plane with Tail#4223332/Chalk#16/jump-master. Records indicate he was wounded on June 9, 1944, and died of his wounds on June 17th.
Lt Koehler was interred at the Normandy American Cemetery, but on November 7, 1948 was re-interred at the Oak Hill Cemetery, Atchison, Kansas. Family members had said that he was shot while parachuting into France, but records indicate that he was wounded on June 9th. His place of death was listed as Cherbourg, Manche, Basse-Normandie. He was interred in the Normandy American Cemetery in Omaha Beach, Colleville-Sur-Mer, France. After the war, the family requested his remains be returned home. He was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Atchison, Kansas, on November 7, 1948. His parents were later buried next to him, as was his son, Tony, upon his death in 1999. His widow, Ruby, had remarried October 5, 1946, to Albert Hinz. Ruby and Albert are buried in the Lancaster Cemetery, Lancaster, Atchison Co., Kansas.
Lt Koehler was awarded the Purple Heart Medal, Croix De Guerre [French] European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star and Arrowhead,WW2 Victory Medal,WW2 Honorable Service Lapel Button, Parachute Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, Presidential Distinguished Unit Emblem.
Home of Record: Atchison, Atchison County, Kansas
Died of Wounds
He was the son of Anton Raymond Koehler and Grace Velma Jack. He married Ruby Hood in Platte City, Missouri, in August 1940. He was a graduate of Atchison High School, and had played on the local baseball teams during and after his school years. After high school, he attended Wesleyan University in Salina, Kansas.
He was serving in the National Guard before being activated in December 1940. He graduated from paratrooper's school in Fort Benning, GA, on October 24, 1942 and was promoted to Lieutenant on December 1, 1942. Elmo and Ruby had a son, Roy Anton "Tony" in February 1943, while stationed at Fort Benning. Prior to being sent overseas, Elmo was stationed in several states in the U.S. and Ruby tried to travel to be with him as much as possible. A few years ago, an old friend of Elmo's sent us pictures of him, Ruby and some of his service buddies in Hot Springs Arkansas, and in California. It was nice to see that time in his life.
Elmo spent some time in England for additional training, before the troop invasion into Normandy France on June 5, 1944. During Operation Neptune, June 6, 1944 Lt Koehler parachuted from his C47 Troop Transport plane with Tail#4223332/Chalk#16/jump-master. Records indicate he was wounded on June 9, 1944, and died of his wounds on June 17th.
Lt Koehler was interred at the Normandy American Cemetery, but on November 7, 1948 was re-interred at the Oak Hill Cemetery, Atchison, Kansas. Family members had said that he was shot while parachuting into France, but records indicate that he was wounded on June 9th. His place of death was listed as Cherbourg, Manche, Basse-Normandie. He was interred in the Normandy American Cemetery in Omaha Beach, Colleville-Sur-Mer, France. After the war, the family requested his remains be returned home. He was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Atchison, Kansas, on November 7, 1948. His parents were later buried next to him, as was his son, Tony, upon his death in 1999. His widow, Ruby, had remarried October 5, 1946, to Albert Hinz. Ruby and Albert are buried in the Lancaster Cemetery, Lancaster, Atchison Co., Kansas.
Lt Koehler was awarded the Purple Heart Medal, Croix De Guerre [French] European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star and Arrowhead,WW2 Victory Medal,WW2 Honorable Service Lapel Button, Parachute Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, Presidential Distinguished Unit Emblem.
Home of Record: Atchison, Atchison County, Kansas
Died of Wounds
He was serving in the National Guard before being activated in December 1940. He graduated from paratrooper's school in Fort Benning, GA, on October 24, 1942 and was promoted to Lieutenant on December 1, 1942. Elmo and Ruby had a son, Roy Anton "Tony" in February 1943, while stationed at Fort Benning. Prior to being sent overseas, Elmo was stationed in several states in the U.S. and Ruby tried to travel to be with him as much as possible. A few years ago, an old friend of Elmo's sent us pictures of him, Ruby and some of his service buddies in Hot Springs Arkansas, and in California. It was nice to see that time in his life.
Elmo spent some time in England for additional training, before the troop invasion into Normandy France on June 5, 1944. During Operation Neptune, June 6, 1944 Lt Koehler parachuted from his C47 Troop Transport plane with Tail#4223332/Chalk#16/jump-master. Records indicate he was wounded on June 9, 1944, and died of his wounds on June 17th.
Lt Koehler was interred at the Normandy American Cemetery, but on November 7, 1948 was re-interred at the Oak Hill Cemetery, Atchison, Kansas. Family members had said that he was shot while parachuting into France, but records indicate that he was wounded on June 9th. His place of death was listed as Cherbourg, Manche, Basse-Normandie. He was interred in the Normandy American Cemetery in Omaha Beach, Colleville-Sur-Mer, France. After the war, the family requested his remains be returned home. He was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Atchison, Kansas, on November 7, 1948. His parents were later buried next to him, as was his son, Tony, upon his death in 1999. His widow, Ruby, had remarried October 5, 1946, to Albert Hinz. Ruby and Albert are buried in the Lancaster Cemetery, Lancaster, Atchison Co., Kansas.
Lt Koehler was awarded the Purple Heart Medal, Croix De Guerre [French] European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star and Arrowhead,WW2 Victory Medal,WW2 Honorable Service Lapel Button, Parachute Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, Presidential Distinguished Unit Emblem.
Home of Record: Atchison, Atchison County, Kansas
Died of Wounds
Inscription
ELMO F. KOEHLER
KANSAS
1 LT 507 PRCHT INF 82 ABN DIV
JAN 26 1918 JUNE 17 1944
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