Son of George and Martha (Mathews) Fryar. Elmer grew up in Lakewood, Colorado, graduated Prospect Valley school and attended Wheat Ridge High School before joining Army for three years at age nineteen. He then enlisted in Marines three months after his Army service ended. He served four years with Marines and returned to Lakewood until U.S. entered World War II, when he re-enlisted as a Army paratrooper. On December 8, 1944, according to Colorado Transcript, "In a single handed rifle fight with the Japanese, Private Fryar, who remained alone on a high, exposed position to hold off the enemy while his company withdrew to re-form its lines, killed at least twenty-seven Japanese and then, crawling after his buddies, threw himself in front of his lieutenant as a Japanese sniper aimed his automatic rifle at the officer. Fryar fell with seven bullet holes in his chest and stomach."  He was awarded the Medal of Honor while serving in the Army and his citation is as below:

G.O. No.: 35, 9 May 1945.
The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to FRYAR, ELMER E.

Rank and organization: Private, U .S. Army, Company E, 511th Parachute Infantry, 11th Airborne Division. Place and date: Leyte, Philippine Islands, 8 December 1944. Entered service at: Denver, Colo. Birth: Denver, Colo.

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Pvt. Fryar's battalion encountered the enemy strongly entrenched in a position supported by mortars and automatic weapons. The battalion attacked, but in spite of repeated efforts was unable to take the position.

Pvt. Fryar's company was ordered to cover the battalion's withdrawal to a more suitable point from which to attack, but the enemy launched a strong counterattack which threatened to cut off the company. Seeing an enemy platoon moving to outflank his company, he moved to higher ground and opened heavy and accurate fire. He was hit, and wounded, but continuing his attack he drove the enemy back with a loss of 27 killed. While withdrawing to overtake his squad, he found a seriously wounded comrade, helped him to the rear, and soon overtook his platoon leader, who was assisting another wounded.

While these four were moving to rejoin their platoon, an enemy sniper appeared and aimed his weapon at the platoon leader. Pvt. Fryar instantly sprang forward, received the full burst of automatic fire in his own body and fell mortally wounded. With his remaining strength he threw a hand grenade and killed the sniper.

Pvt. Fryar's indomitable fighting spirit and extraordinary gallantry above and beyond the call of duty contributed outstandingly to the success of the battalion's withdrawal and its subsequent attack and defeat of the enemy. His heroic action in unhesitatingly giving his own life for his comrade in arms exemplifies the highest tradition of the U.S. Armed Forces.