Military History
The Elting military history tribute book has been completed!
Since the mid-1600s, members of the extended Elting(e)
family have helped to protect the United States, our liberties, and our ideals
by contributing to the military efforts of the various government entities.
When the family genealogist, James W. Elting, prepared to
release the latest edition of our genealogy records, Grace Elting Castle
offered to prepare a chapter based on her research of Elting(e) military
history.
Additional information poured in from family members and soon it became
obvious that more than just a chapter was needed. Thus began a ten year search
for more details of the family’s military contributions.
The resultant 224 page book, “Answering the Call! An
Elting Military Tribute,” was released in December 2008. It includes stories
and facts dating from Roelif Elting’s 1715 service in Capt. Nicholas Hoffman’s
foot company for Kingston, NY to Sgt. Rod Wionowsky of California’s (U.S
Army Reserves) second tour of duty in Iraq. There are some “surprises”
including that General George Patton, Jr. of World War II fame was an Elting
descendant, as were numerous Civil War Confederate soldiers in the Hite and
Patton families. The book also includes descendants of Jan and Jacomyntje
Eltinge who now carry such other surnames as France, Gilles, Greeley,
Hasbrouck, Hillegas, Houghtaling, Howell, Kennoch, Ladue, LeFevre, Mitchell,
Osterhoudt, Pattou, Peters, Schoonmaker, Smith, Snyder,
VanWagenen, Webb, Woolsey, Wright, Wygant, and Yandeau, Two soldiers, Debby
(Elting) Fawver and Viola Elting, represent the Elting women who have served
in the U.S military.
Included in the book are chapters on the early history of
the family and of the village of New Paltz, N.Y, including some interesting
details on slavery in the early years of the village. There is also a special
section on a ship, General LeRoy Eltinge, with a brief history of its service,
as well as interesting recollections from many who served, or were
transported, on the ship.
A special section honors three men who served in a
non-military capacity, but whose contributions to the history of the U.S was
significant: Howard Elting who is credited with trying to warn the world of
Hitler’s planned annihilation of the Jewish people; Victor M. Elting, who
was one of the founders of the U.S Department of Justice’s domestic spy
operation during the first World War; and Robert Eltinge Lasher, a Voice of
America script writer and correspondent, who also saw foreign service with the
U.S Information Service.
“Answering the Call! An Elting Military Tribute,” is
available at the following Internet sites:
