Vet Named Chaplain At Hospital

   A former paratrooper chaplain and Bronze Star winner has been appointed chaplain at Kentucky Baptist Hospital, it was announced yesterday.
   The Rev. James Lyn Elder, former chaplain of the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, has taken over his new duties. He succeeds the Rev. Wayne Oates, who has become director of clinical studies at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Served In Ardennes

  Mr. Elder is a graduate of Louisiana State University. He served as pastor of the Lyndon, Ky., Baptist Church from 1940 to 1942, after attending Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
   During the war he served in North Africa, England, in the Normandy invasion and Ardennes campaign. He was wounded once, and twice injured in jumps. He holds the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and Presidential Unit Citation.

[The Courier-Journal, Louisville, KY, 20 Sep 1946, Fri, Page 10]

Former Biloxian
Says Present
And Future Important

   Dr J Lyn Elder World War II paratrooper chaplain and new minister of the St Charles Avenue Baptist church, New Orleans is detached about the past and holds that the present and future alone are important.
   Nevertheless he made 14 jumps with the 82nd Airborne Infantry Division is a veteran of the Battle of the Bulge and was once wounded when he '‘didn’t duck quick enough."
   Dr. Elder then a captain in the chaplain corps was struck in the back by shell fragments while conducting delayed Christmas services on Dec. 27, 1944 during the Battle of the Bulge. The chaplain broke a leg during a training jump in England but that didn't keep him from participating in the Normandy invasion and subsequent battles.  He is proud of the fact that his 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment was chosen as a guard of honor for Gen. Eisenhower on his entry into Berlin after the war.
   Dr. Elder believes that the individual should think of himself in relation to his community. "Through the church we can help people understand the importance of brotherhood The church is not merely a launching place on the road to heaven — it helps us live together on the way there."
   The minister was bon in Biloxi 32 years ago is married and has two sons Harold Lyn 7 and John Clark 4.

[The Daily Herald, Biloxi, MS, 06 Feb 1951, Tue. Page 8]

James registered for the draft at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Orleans, LA on 16 October 1940.

He entered the service on 30 November 1940,

On 5 November 1941, Lt Elder married Doris Ruth Harvey in Grand Rapids, MI.

1st Lt Elder was transferred to Hq Hq 508th PIR on 2 November 1942 and the following day was announced as the regimental chaplain.

Lt Elder was appointed to the grade of Captain on 8 November 1943.

Capt Elder was wounded in action in Belgium on 27 December 1944 and evacuated.  He retuned to duty on 2 February1945.

Conflicting Special Orders issued in mid-August 1945 state that he was transferred to either the 17th Airborne Division or 101st Airborne Division.

Department of Veterans Affairs records indicate he was discharged on 17 October 1946 although the article at left implies he was employed a month earlier than that.