Captain Elliott Averett Jr (0454602)

Captain Elliott Averett Jr commanded Tank Company F, from July 1944 (following the wounding of Capt. John F. Christensen 0407227). His son, Tom, has contributed a remarkable trove of photographs, notes and letters which could alone serve as the basis for an entire website or book.

Below is only a small selection of photographs and an interview with Tom, to give a flavour of a man who clearly loved his men and was equally loved in return.

On October 13 1944, in Monschau, Germany, Elliott was wounded by a mortar round and transferred to hospital in France. Tom has pieced together the story that follows:

“I remember him saying that he was in a hospital, I think in France, but definitely somewhere to the rear of the front lines (could have been in Belgium). He said they were (or he thought they were) about to send him further to the rear. I can't specifically remember if he said where - if it was in France or even to England.

“He thought that if he was moved further away from the front (which probably also meant being gone a longer time) that when he returned to combat he would be assigned to a different unit. He wanted to be with his same men so at that point he went AWOL and hitchhiked back to the 24th Cav Rcn. Sq.

“Once he got back to HQ he was made the S-2* and it seems was doing that job from Oct. 28th until sometime in November - I'm thinking maybe a period of 2.5 weeks or more. I believe it was after being at HQ for a while that the men of Company F took up and submitted a petition to get him back as their captain.

“The subsequent transfer then would have had to be approved by someone at HQ at which time he would have been given transport back to Co. F.”

*Editor’s note: S-2 is an intelligence officer.

Elliott rarely mentioned anything else of his wartime experience after returning home. A native of Chatham, New Jersey, he paused a career in banking to volunteer for the National Guard Cavalry branch on January 27 1941 (with the initial serial number 20241716).

In Germany, a month before hostilities ceased, he was cited for the Silver Star (the third highest military combat decoration) for a daring ‘dismounted’ action in April 1945, dodging from doorway to doorway to eliminate a German 40mm gun (presumably a Bofors L/60 anti-aircraft autocannon) flanked by two machine guns.

After the war, he returned to banking. On retirement he was CEO of the bank from which he had resigned as a messenger boy to enlist. He also served as President of non-profit organisation The Seeing Eye, which professionalised the training and use of guide dogs for blind or visually-impaired people in the US.

I correspond often with Tom and, with his permission, also include other extracts below, from our exchanges.

There are many more items of interest in Elliott’s notes, which will add to understanding of the squadron over time. My thanks to Tom for providing so much already. Below is the audio of a call we had about Elliott’s life and service earlier this year.

Elliott Averett Jr was born January 6 1918 in Chatham, New Jersey. He died January 12 1982 in New Vernon, New Jersey, aged 64.