Senate Honors WWII Hero For Efforts at the Battle of the Bulge

A South Sound man who was praised two months ago for his efforts in World War II by French President Nicolas Sarkozy got even more honors from lawmakers in his home state.

The Washington State Senate adopted Resolution 8705, honoring World War II veteran Douglas Elms of Tacoma for his courageous action and heroism.
 
Elms, a Tacoma native Washingtonian, enlisted in the Army in 1938 as a private first class. He was assigned to the anti-tank company of the 424th Regiment of the 106th Infantry Division, which was tasked with defending the French against the Nazis. Elms took part in what would later be recorded as one of the greatest strategic Allied successes of the war in Europe.

For his role in his company’s triumph over the Nazis at the Battle of the Bulge on January 25, 1945, Elms was named Chevalier of the Legion of Honor (created by Napoleon in 1802) by French President Nicolas Sarkozy on December 7, 2011. He’s also received the Belgian Fourragere and the U.S. Army’s Bronze Star for his meritorious achievement and gallant heroism during active ground combat at the Battle of the Bulge.

According to state Sen. Mike Carrell, R-Lakewood, said Elms "battled relentlessly to save the lives of more than two-dozen men of the 112th Regiment during the Battle of the Bulge."

"Douglas Elms fought with his company for almost forty consecutive days without enough food, minimal shelter and a severe lack of manpower, to defend against the encroaching Nazi forces. Tacoma, the 28th District and the state of Washington are humbled to have such a man call this his home.”

(Carrell's office contributed to this report)