Lieutenant Colonel Maximilian Elser
Maximilian Elser Jr was born on June 10th, 1889 in Fort North, Texas to Maximilian Elser Sr and Lilly Loving as the youngest of their three children. After completing local schools, Max attended Cornell University in 1906, spending time in their cadet program for one year before graduating in 1910. Returning back to Texas, he used his college education to become the manager of the Metropolitan Opera Singers Company which booked very famous artists in New York. He also married Helen Richter and went on to have three children. However, when America entered the Great War in 1917, Max decided to take a different career path. He enlisted in the Army on August 23rd, 1917 and trained for three months in Plattsburg when he was commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant on November 27th due to his former cadet experience and degree.
WW1 On December 15th, 1917, Lieutenant Elser was selected to be a founding member of a new US Military branch, the Military Intelligence Division with the General Staff, Washington as Chief of the Combat Sub-Section. Although this was a brand new field for Elser, he quickly adjusted to the duties needed and served in this capacity into June of 1918. |
“Since reporting for duty in this section, December 15, 1917, you have been in charge of the Combat Sub-Section. This duty you have performed in a remarkably efficient manner. You have had to create the combat record from military data throughout the world, which first had to be collected. While doing this you had to develop the personnel of your organization, selecting and training them. In addition thereto you have had to maintain the combat factor of the Strategic Estimate. These things together with numerous auxiliary activities, such as the maintaining of battle charts at various points, etc. combine to make a task of the greatest difficulty. This task you have accomplished in a highly efficient manner, and I wish to take this opportunity of commending you therefore. You have shown an Intelligent appreciation of the situation as it exists and an ability in meeting that situation that has been of the greatest value to this office and through It to the government.”
Siberia
After gaining a promotion to Captain, he briefly served as the Executive Officer of the Positive Intelligence Branch before being alerted to overseas duty in August, where he traveled to San Francisco and left on the USAT Sheridan for the unforgiving cold of Siberia. American troops were sent here to defend against Bolshevik forces, protect supplies, save Czech troops, and reestablish the Eastern Front. For Captain Elser, his duties were as Executive Officer, Military Intelligence Section of AEF Headquarters in Vladivostok, Siberia to gather information on enemy movements and inform friendly troops. Another big factor was the trapped Czechoslovak Legion which was attempting to break out of Bolshevik territory. In general, the conditions in Siberia were horrendous; fuel and ammunition froze and temperatures wreaked havoc on the ill prepared US troops. Captain Elser left Russia in February of 1919 and was discharged from federal duty on the 27th, but rejoined the reserves as a Major two months later.
Inter-War
After WW1, Maximilian remained in the reserve but used the opportunity to pursue his civilian career. He founded the Metropolitan newspaper feature service, which included international publications, and was Chief of the press bureau of J. Walter Thomas Company, the world's largest advertising company. As for his military service, he was assigned to the 2nd Corps Area Service Command’s Public Relations Branch and remained here as World War Two kicked off abroad. When the US was attacked at Pearl Harbor, Elser was immediately recalled into active duty on February 22nd, 1942 with the rank of Major.
WW2
His first assignment of the war was with Headquarters, European-Theatre of Operations as Assistant Public Relations and Morale Officer where he helped open their office in Washington. However, his experience was particularly desired at the New York Port of Embarkation, and he transferred there as the Commander of Troops on October 27th. His skill of taking care of soldiers and his extreme attention to detail landed him as Transport Commander of the USAT Shawnee. Their first voyage was to the port of Oran which had just been captured, and operated in North Africa and Europe for the next six months. Major Elser impressed everyone on the ship due to the care and foresight he possessed for comfort. During the many voyages, Elser personally received at least four letters of commendations from passengers.
“…for his superior work in the preparation of this ship for transportation of troops overseas. Detailed plans for embarkation, berthing, mess, emergency boat drill, and abandon ship drill…proved their successful operation that prior planning and foresight had been used to the ultimate degree.”
“Major Elser is a guardian angel on this ship. In his work he certainly has the full cooperation of all Officers of the vessel. As civilians we noticed particularly the friendly attitude of all hands…the enlisted men were flattered and pleased at the celebration of their birthday…”
The Pacific
His time at the NYPE ended in early June ,for the Army had found another assignment for him. On July 26th, 1943, he left for Australia and then moved to New Guinea where he joined Headquarters at Milne Bay as Transportation Commander and Executive Officer. His duties included maintenance, repairs, building docks, drainage, and working with engineers. A combination of age and the damp climate of the jungle began to take a toll on him, yet he never wavered in his duties. On March 3rd, 1944, he transferred to the Trans-Pacific Water Priorities Section as Chief Regulating Officer and Head of Instruction which later fell under the General HQ doing similar duties in New Guinea. However, his time in this capacity ended exactly one year and two days later when he took on the role of Assistant G-2 of the 8th Army located in the Philippines for the invasions of the Southern Philippines and Luzon. A newspaper article highlighted how he was “hitting the jungle trails with the best of them…for Lieut. Gen. Robert Eichelberger, 8th Army commander, with whom he fought in the last war. He is 24 pounds lighter than when he was last in New York.” For his achievement in coordinating the invasions, Elser was awarded the Bronze Star. Unfortunately, his health problems worsened and he was diagnosed with arthritis in his back, causing him to be sent back to the states. He was medically discharged as a Lieutenant Colonel on December 1st, 1945, just long enough to see the surrender of both Germany and Japan. After the war, he returned to New York with his wife to continue his businesses. He sadly passed away from heart disease on January 3rd, 1961. Tragically, his wife passed away two months later from the same condition.
Siberia
After gaining a promotion to Captain, he briefly served as the Executive Officer of the Positive Intelligence Branch before being alerted to overseas duty in August, where he traveled to San Francisco and left on the USAT Sheridan for the unforgiving cold of Siberia. American troops were sent here to defend against Bolshevik forces, protect supplies, save Czech troops, and reestablish the Eastern Front. For Captain Elser, his duties were as Executive Officer, Military Intelligence Section of AEF Headquarters in Vladivostok, Siberia to gather information on enemy movements and inform friendly troops. Another big factor was the trapped Czechoslovak Legion which was attempting to break out of Bolshevik territory. In general, the conditions in Siberia were horrendous; fuel and ammunition froze and temperatures wreaked havoc on the ill prepared US troops. Captain Elser left Russia in February of 1919 and was discharged from federal duty on the 27th, but rejoined the reserves as a Major two months later.
Inter-War
After WW1, Maximilian remained in the reserve but used the opportunity to pursue his civilian career. He founded the Metropolitan newspaper feature service, which included international publications, and was Chief of the press bureau of J. Walter Thomas Company, the world's largest advertising company. As for his military service, he was assigned to the 2nd Corps Area Service Command’s Public Relations Branch and remained here as World War Two kicked off abroad. When the US was attacked at Pearl Harbor, Elser was immediately recalled into active duty on February 22nd, 1942 with the rank of Major.
WW2
His first assignment of the war was with Headquarters, European-Theatre of Operations as Assistant Public Relations and Morale Officer where he helped open their office in Washington. However, his experience was particularly desired at the New York Port of Embarkation, and he transferred there as the Commander of Troops on October 27th. His skill of taking care of soldiers and his extreme attention to detail landed him as Transport Commander of the USAT Shawnee. Their first voyage was to the port of Oran which had just been captured, and operated in North Africa and Europe for the next six months. Major Elser impressed everyone on the ship due to the care and foresight he possessed for comfort. During the many voyages, Elser personally received at least four letters of commendations from passengers.
“…for his superior work in the preparation of this ship for transportation of troops overseas. Detailed plans for embarkation, berthing, mess, emergency boat drill, and abandon ship drill…proved their successful operation that prior planning and foresight had been used to the ultimate degree.”
“Major Elser is a guardian angel on this ship. In his work he certainly has the full cooperation of all Officers of the vessel. As civilians we noticed particularly the friendly attitude of all hands…the enlisted men were flattered and pleased at the celebration of their birthday…”
The Pacific
His time at the NYPE ended in early June ,for the Army had found another assignment for him. On July 26th, 1943, he left for Australia and then moved to New Guinea where he joined Headquarters at Milne Bay as Transportation Commander and Executive Officer. His duties included maintenance, repairs, building docks, drainage, and working with engineers. A combination of age and the damp climate of the jungle began to take a toll on him, yet he never wavered in his duties. On March 3rd, 1944, he transferred to the Trans-Pacific Water Priorities Section as Chief Regulating Officer and Head of Instruction which later fell under the General HQ doing similar duties in New Guinea. However, his time in this capacity ended exactly one year and two days later when he took on the role of Assistant G-2 of the 8th Army located in the Philippines for the invasions of the Southern Philippines and Luzon. A newspaper article highlighted how he was “hitting the jungle trails with the best of them…for Lieut. Gen. Robert Eichelberger, 8th Army commander, with whom he fought in the last war. He is 24 pounds lighter than when he was last in New York.” For his achievement in coordinating the invasions, Elser was awarded the Bronze Star. Unfortunately, his health problems worsened and he was diagnosed with arthritis in his back, causing him to be sent back to the states. He was medically discharged as a Lieutenant Colonel on December 1st, 1945, just long enough to see the surrender of both Germany and Japan. After the war, he returned to New York with his wife to continue his businesses. He sadly passed away from heart disease on January 3rd, 1961. Tragically, his wife passed away two months later from the same condition.