SSGT Elbert Eugene Holland (WWII)

Remembering SSGT Elbert Eugene Holland (Fairmont)

January 28, 1922 - April 6, 1944

----

SSGT Elbert Eugene Holland (Service Number 35744730) was born in Fairmont, WV on January 28, 1922, the son of Elbert Ellsworth and Goldie (Moran) Holland. 

It's unclear where precisely Elbert Ellsworth and Goldie lived when baby Elbert was born. In the 1920 census, they were boarders at the home of Clark and Alice Miller at 836 Fourth Street, and Clark was a book keeper for a machine foundry. The 1923 Fairmont City Directory found them living at 809 View Avenue, and Elbert Ellsworth a clerk for the Fairmont Mining Machinery Company.

 Between 1925 and 1929, Elbert Ellsworth made a career change, beginning to work at Long Chevrolet in different capacities, from a salesman (1929 City Directory) to an assistant manager (1931 City Directory). By the 1940 Census, Elbert Ellsworth was working as an office clerk for a coal company. Their family lived a number of places during Elbert Eugene's lifetime (see list at end of bio), but Elbert Eugene's final residence was 700 Glenn Avenue (1940 Census, 1941-1945 City Directories). 

Elbert Eugene Holland attended Fairmont Senior High School, and graduated in the class of 1941.

Military Service

Elbert Eugene Holland entered the draft on June 30, 1942, at age 20. Employed by Robert Nutter, a carpenter in Fairmont (1941 City Directory entry for Robert Nutter), Elbert was 6' and 158 lbs, with blue eyes, brown hair, and light skin. 

He enlisted in the army on November 30, 1942 in Clarksburg, WV. Elbert became part of the 99th Infantry Division, 395th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion, Company I.

SSGT Elbert Eugene Holland was killed in action on April 6, 1945. This was most likely due to the Ruhr Pocket battle, which took place April 1-18 in Ruhr, Germany.

Historian Richard Arthur Briggs said of that day:
"The 99th '"Checkerboard" Division held a front line position on the left flank of the III Corps area and were attacking in a position from Schamedar to Schmallenberg. The 99th Division was also to maintain contact with the 86th Division on their left." (pg 56)

"The III Corps mission was to attack to the northwest in close coordination with the XVIII Airborne Corps and to clear the area bordered by the Lenne River on the left, which was the common border with the Airborne Corps, and the Ninth Army area on the right, all the way to the Ruhr River. 

Operations on April 6 saw gains in the III Corps area ranging from 3,000 to 5,000 yards against spotty opposition. The 99th Infantry Division captured Wingehausen and Musse, despite a determined counterattack which struck at the lines held by the 393rd Infantry (99th Division) just at twilight on this date. The counter-attack, which was led by several tanks and strongly supported by infantry, was repulsed with heavy losses by the enemy." (pg 56)

Legacy and Survivors:

SSGT Elbert Eugene Holland was laid to rest at the Summers Cemetery near Halleck Road in Triune, WV (a suburb of Morgantown) on January 8, 1949.

Elbert Eugene was survived by his parents, and his younger brother John William Holland, who lived to be 93 (1928-2021).

Some of the places the Hollands lived in SSGT Holland's lifetime:

706 1/2 Pittsburgh Avene (1925 City Directory)
1125 Glenn/Lowell Street (1927-1929 City Directory)
805 Glenn Avenue (1930 Census)
704 Glenn Avenue (1935-1939 City Directories)
700 Glenn Avenue (1940 Census, 1941-1945 City Directories).

Sources and More Information:


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