Rapid City Soldier Was WW2 Hero, Leader in 1972 Flood Response

by Duke Doering

     Colonel Elroy H. (Stretch) Lemaster was Chief of Staff and then Deputy Adjutant General for the South Dakota National Guard from the mid-1960s and until 1976.  During the 1972 Rapid City flood, Lemaster established control and got the Emergency Operating Center rolling early in the evening, before the high water hit Rapid City.  His preparation and command and control lessoned the chaos and saved lives. He was a commander in the 147th Field Artillery prior to transferring to the State Headquarters staff.

     His military career started much earlier than that, he had joined the Army at the start of World War II. Lemaster was awarded [7-14-44] the Silver Star Medal for his heroism in Italy during World War II.  The citation reads as follows.           

     ELROY H. LEMASTER, 0446770, First Lieutenant, Infantry, 349th Infantry, for gallantry in action.  On 8 July 1944 in the vicinity of Volterra, Italy, First Lieutenant LEMASTER performed with conspicuous gallantry and great personal heroism in silencing two hostile machine guns while leading an assault on the town of Roncolla.  When his platoon was held up in the attack by several enemy machine guns firing from the slopes leading up to the objective, this officer, ignoring the deadly fire which converged on him as he moved, crawled forward fifty yards to hurl a grenade and silence the gun.  

      Inducing his men to follow him through the vicious hostile cross fires, they moved forward but were again held up as two more enemy machine guns poured deadly streams of tracers at them.  As hostile fire reached the peak of its intensity,  heavy artillery crashing on all sides and 20mm shells kicking dust and rock fragments over him, this courageous officer again worked his way forward and with a grenade he knocked out another machine gun.  Inspired by the deeds of the intrepid leader, the men willingly followed him in the final assault.  

     Through bitter fire which killed two soldiers and wounded two at his side, First Lieutenant LEMASTER with his men broke into the town, killing fifteen Germans, wounding four and capturing forty.  The inspiring heroism of this officer at great personal risk in hostile fire was a vital factor in the accomplishment of the battalion’s mission.  By his gallantry and outstanding leadership, First Lieutenant LEMASTER has reflected great credit on himself and his deeds and laurels to the fighting traditions of the United States Army.  Entered the military service from Belle Fourche, South Dakota.