Elgia LaGrow
Marriages
Gertrude Mathews - September 20, 1920
in Littleton, Colorado.
Burial Details
Obituaries
Eagle Valley Enterprise page 17 - November 15, 2007
Some people celebrated Veteran's Day by enjoying a day off of work.
Local veterans paid educational visits to schools, and held a ceremony at the Freedom Park memorial in Edwards.
For Mary Alice Greenman of Cooley Mesa, Veteran's Day was a reminder of her father, Elgia S. La Grow, a man who made his living as a rancher; but who was also a highly-decorated World War I veteran.
The proof of La Grow's heroism is in the family archive, and on his modest gravestone in the Gypsum cemetery. The stone is etched with a likeness of one of the medals he was awarded for distinguished service.
La Grow would have been 24 years old on Sept. 12, 1918 when he was serving as a private with the 357th Infantry American Expeditionary Force near Fe-en-Haye, France. President Woodrow Wilson sent the AEF troops to France under the command of Gen. John Pershing to battle a German stronghold on the Western Front.
According to the War Department, Pvt. La Grow "Displayed an admirable quality of courage" and heroism in action near Fey-en-Hay France that September day. La Grow is credited with "always being the first to venture forth in an endeavor to wipe out obstacles in his company's advance." He also captured, without aid, three enemy machine guns on different occasions.
Greenman remembers that her father occasionally talked about the war. The details are vague. He suffered from the effects of mustard gas for the rest of his life; and was tormented by nightmares. He also suffered a shrapnel wound. For a period of time, he was missing in action.
After the war, in 1925, La Grow's heroism was recognized by both the French and United States governments. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross and the Distinguished Service Medal.
It's been many years since Elgia La Grow's act of heroism. Greenman is troubled by the fact that his grave is often overlooked on Memorial Day when service groups put out flags on the graves of veterans. This week, Greenman did make a trip to the cemetery, and left behind a flag.
It just seemed right that somebody should remember this heroic veteran.
Eagle Valley Enterprise page 10 - January 24, 1974
Gypsum resident Elgia LaGrow, 79, died Jan 17 at Veteran's Hospital in Grand Junction. He had been a resident of Gypsum for 31 years. LaGrow was born on May 24, 1894 at Morrison, Colo. On September 20, 1920 he married Gertrude Mathews at Littleton, Colo. His wife survives him. LaGrow was a member of the American Legion. He was distinguished in World War I as the only man from Colorado to receive a Distinguished Service Cross. LaGrow received the honor after capturing without aid three enemy machine guns at separate times. He is survived by one son, Elgia Lagrow, Jr of Gypsum and four daugthers, Mrs. Trudy High of Golden; Mrs. Betty Stene of Commerce City Colo; Mrs. Mary Alice Greenman of Gypsum, and Mrs. Evelyn HOrn of Wolcott. Other survivors include 12 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held on Sunday Jan. 20 at the Legion Hall in Gypsum. Rev. Greg Smith officiated Burial was in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Gypsum.
