Career
At age nineteen Fryar joined the Army from his birth city of Denver, Colorado, and served three years. After leaving service in the Army he joined the Marines for four years of service, returning to civilian life in Lakewood, Colorado until the United States became involved in World World War World War II He re-enlisted in the Army, and by December 8, 1944 was serving as a private in Company East, 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 11th Airborne Division. On that day, in Leyte, the Philippines, he single-handedly held off an enemy platoon which was trying to flank his company.
Later, while helping a wounded soldier to the rear, he saw an enemy sniper aiming at his platoon leader.
Fryar jumped forward and blocked the sniper"s fire with his body. Although mortally wounded, he managed to kill the sniper with a hand grenade before succumbing.
Fryar"s body was never recovered. He is listed on the Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery in Manila, the Philippines.
The parachute landing zone at Fort Benning, Georgia., used for training and graduating students in the United States. Army Airborne School, is named in Fryar"s honor.
The football stadium on Fort Campbell, Kentucky, onetime home of Fryar"s old 11th Airborne Division, also bears his name. There is also a United States. Army Reserve training center named after him in his home state of Colorado. In Stadtbergen (near Augsburg/Germany) a street is named Elmer-Fryar-Circle".