Elden William Grimm

Elden Grimm was born on 16 November 1917 in Helvedia, Wisconsin. He grew up in Menasha with his parents, Arnold and Freda Grimm, and siblings Margaret, Victor, Evelyn, and Nancy.

Elden developed a variety of interests as a youth; he was known at Menasha High School as a footballer (and captained the team during his senior year of 1938) but also had a gift for entertaining. Local newspapers reporting on social events frequently mentioned his name in connection with parties or programs going on about town – Elden was either organizing the entertainment, or singing songs, or both. He also had a fondness for poetry.

Prior to enlistment, Elden worked for the Menasha Products Company.

Elden enlisted on 17 November 1941 – a day after his 24th birthday – and was soon on his way to San Diego for boot camp. Upon completing his initial training, he was assigned to duty with Company D, Second Engineer Battalion, part of the 2nd Marine Division.

Elden trained as a demolitions specialist, and quickly advanced in rank to corporal. When he wasn’t hard at work with the engineers – who “repair and build bridges any place / then blow them up in the enemies face” – he was firing off poems to the Menasha Record, which was only too happy to print his work.

The tone of Grimm’s poetry changed notably over time. Before heading overseas, he wrote somewhat maudlin or bombastic verses. In the summer of 1943 – following combat experiences on Guadalcanal – Grimm developed a more serious tone. “Death devours all lovely things/Adoration for them must blind,” he wrote for a hometown friend killed in action. Another poem evoked the aftermath of combat in darkness, with the repeated plea to “please hold back the night.”

By the fall of 1943, Sergeant Grimm – now a demolition squad leader with Able Company, First Battalion, 18th Marines – was preparing for his second experience in combat. He faced the enemy again on 20 November 1943, at the battle of Tarawa.