Lieutenant Delmar W. Yenzer

Silver Star

Delmar Willard Yenzer was born to Mr. and Mrs. JE Yenzer on November 4, 1917. At an early age the family moved to Mesilla NM where he was raised. Delmar graduated from Las Cruces HS in 1936 and enrolled at NMAMC the next fall to study Agriculture. He attended school up until 1942 when he enlisted in the US Army. He was commissioned as an Infantry officer and assigned to the 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. The Division shipped to Ireland in August 1943 to train for the cross channel invasion. On D+1 the unit came ashore at Omaha Beach as part of V Corps. Within two days it was in close combat with German forces defending the town of Trevieres. The attack was at heavy cost and it is recorded that it would have failed had it not been for the bold leadership of the 3rd battalion. Lt Yenzer was serving as a platoon leader in Company K, 3rd Battalion on that day. When the company commander was killed, Lt Yenzer reorganized the platoons and led the attack on towards the objective. Twice wounded during the day’s action, he personally led the assault that took the final objective. For these actions Lt Yenzer was awarded the Silver Star. On June 13, 1944 the 38th Infantry was directed to attack toward a heavily defended German strongpoint known as Hill 192. In two days of action the regiment lost 547 men to enemy action. It is recorded that Lt Delmar Willard Yenzer was killed in action on June 13, 1944. He was initially buried at LaCombe-Insigny France and in 1949 was reinterred at Arlington National Cemetery. He was 26 years of age at the time of his death.