Elmer Stief, Jr. was from the St. Louis, Missouri area, specifically Berkley City. He was born July 28, 1917 per internet data. Until more records are obtained. no other information is avaible about his birth place or enlistment date. No NARA records about him are online, leading to the speculation that he may have enlisted in the Army prior to December 7, 1941.
What is known is that on or about December 21, 1944 he was listed as missing in action, and subsequently presumed dead. At that time, he was part of the 21st Regiment of the 24th Division. In a February 3, 1945 St. Louis Dispatch newspaper article accompanying the group, it states that SSGT Stief was 27 years old and married to wife Barbara who was living at the same address as his parents. The article mentions that he was lost on Mindoro Island, which is where the 24th Infantry was at the time. An article in the same paper dated October 18, 1945 states that Stief had been declared dead.
The group includes SSGT Stief's slot brooch, officially small machine engraved, posthumous Purple Heart in its presentation case, plus copies of the newspaper articles mentioned above. Records indicate that SSGT Stief was also awarded the Bronze Star.
Spring 2022 sold to a collector.
