Grave marker for James Elash in Section D, Row 4, Linwood Cemetery, Blaine (Belmont county), Ohio.

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James registered for the draft in Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio on 20 June 1942 and was inducted into the Army  at Cleveland, OH on 6 October 1942.

James date of arrival in the 508th is unknown as Company F Morning Reports for 1942 are unavailable.

Other than going on 10-day furloughs twice in 1943 his presence was unremarkable in the Morning Reports.

On October 12 1944 Hospital Admission records indicate that he was wounded in action by artillery or shell blast effects and evacuated.

On 2 January 1945, he was transferred from Company F to the hospital's detachment of patients.

The period of treatment for his injuries was lengthy until on 20 April 1945 he was discharged from the Army on disability.