Max Seltzer

Max Seltzer’s Personal Narrative was derived from information found in public records, military personnel files, and local/state historical association materials. Please note that the Robb Centre never fully closes the book on our servicemembers; as new information becomes available, narratives will be updated to appropriately represent the life story of each veteran.

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Military Honor(s):

Distinguished Service Cross 15 September 1920

Citation: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Corporal Max Seltzer (ASN: 44355), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company M, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, A.E.F., near Fleville, France, 4 October 1918. In the attack launched along the Aire River, Corporal Seltzer, single handed, silenced an enemy machine gun that was causing casualties in his company. He was severely wounded on October 9 while leading his squad in an attack on an enemy strong point.

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Life & Service

  • Birth: 15 February 1897, Warsaw (Russia), Poland
  • Place of Residence: Brooklyn, NY, United States
  • Race/Ethnicity: Jewish American
  • Death: 12 March 1974 Brooklyn, NY, United States
  • Branch: Army
  • Military Rank: Corporal
  • Company: [M]
  • Infantry Regiment: 16th
  • Division: 1st
Personal Narrative
Early Life (Pre-War): Includes general parent information, sibling information, education Toggle Accordion

Max Seltzer was born on 15 February 1896 or 1897 in Warszawa, Warszawa, Russian Empire (currently, Warszawa, Mazowieckie, Poland) to unknown parents. He had at least two siblings, Bertha (1882-1974), and Charles (1892-?), also born in Warszawa. Seltzer may have immigrated to the United States around 1909-1910, but the exact dates are unknown. Details regarding his early life, family, and education are minimal.

Service: Includes a summary of transfers, rank change(s), training, enlistment, and discharge locations Toggle Accordion

Seltzer enlisted in the U.S. Army on 2 June 1917 at Ft. Slocum, New York. He was initially assigned, as a Private, to Company K, 39th Infantry Regiment, 4th Division, but was reassigned in August of 1917 to Company M, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division. Pvt Seltzer was made Private First Class on 9 September 1917, then Corporal on 1 November.

Cpl Seltzer and the 3rd Company Training Battalion of the 16th Infantry Regiment left New York on 22 November 1917 aboard the Cunard Line commercial ship S.S. Carpathia. Cpl Seltzer received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions near Fleville, France on 4 October 1918,

“The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Corporal Max Seltzer (ASN: 44355), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company M, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, A.E.F., near Fleville, France, 4 October 1918. In the attack launched along the Aire River, Corporal Seltzer, single handed, silenced an enemy machine gun that was causing casualties in his company. He was severely wounded on October 9 while leading his squad in an attack on an enemy strong point.”

He did not receive the DSC until September of 1920;

“Formal presentation of the Distinguished Service Cross to Max Seltzer, late corporal, 16th U.S. Infantry, First Division, was made at 1 pm today in the office of Colonel B.W. Atkinson, recruiting officer, New York District, Room 1325, No. 461 Eighth Avenue, Manhattan. Colonel Atkinson presented the decoration.”

Cpl Seltzer was wounded in action, degree and details unknown, on 13 October. Cpl Seltzer and Brest Casual Company No. 4266 left Brest, France aboard the U.S. Army Transport Ship U.S.S. Kroonland on 30 August 1919, arriving in Hoboken, New Jersey on 10 September. Cpl Seltzer reenlisted on 25 July 1919 and remained in the service for an undetermined amount of time.

Later Life (Post-War): Includes post-war education, occupation, marriage(s) and/or children, location and date of death Toggle Accordion

In the early 1920s, Cpl Seltzer was stationed at Camp Zachary Taylor in Jefferson, Kentucky. By 1925, Seltzer was back in New York, and married to Esther (maiden name unknown; 1906-1994); the couple had two children, Solomon (Sol) (1927-?) and Mae (1929-?). It is currently unknown as to when Seltzer received his American citizenship.

In the 1930s, the family lived on South 5th Street (374) in Brooklyn, where Seltzer worked as a machinery operator for a dress manufacturer. At some point in the 1940s, the family lived at 1665 85th Street, 1291 E 10th Street, and 2851 West 3rd Street in Brooklyn. In the 1950s, the family lived at 251 Brighton, 2nd Street, in New York.

Little else is known of Seltzer’s adult life, he died in Brooklyn on 12 March 1974- he is buried at Beth Moses Cemetery, West Babylon, Suffolk County, New York.