Memorial

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Pvt Verlyn Elbert arrived in Europe in January 1945.

A letter, written to one of his comrades, tells of his death: "We were together until 25 March, when we made the spearhead across the Rhine river. We were to make a dawn attack across the river on the morning of 26 March. We were loaded into landing barges, 14 men to a boat. I was on boat No. 8, and he (Ebert) was on No. 9. We started across to make the attack at 2 a.m. We were about half way across, when the Germans opened up on us with everything they had. We were helpless, for we couldn't fire back at them. The boat he was on received a direct hit, exploded, and killed every man that was on it. He was killed right out, and his body sank. He didn't suffer one bit. So you see why he was reported missing until his body was found. His body was recovered from the Rhine 21 April. He and the rest of the men were buried in a cemetery over here. I don't know just exactly where it is. He had a military burial along with the rest."