Whiteley, Eli Lamar

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Date of birth:: December 10th, 1913 (Liberty Hill-Williamson County/Texas, United States)
Date of death:: December 2nd, 1986 (College Station-Brazos County/Texas, United States)
Nationality:: American (1776 - present, Republic)

Biography

Eli Lamar Whiteley was born on 10th December 1913 at the family farm near Liberty Hill, Texas as the son of Eli Whiteley and Ruth Hunt. In 1932 he graduated from High School. Graduated from Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (later Texas A&M University) in 1941 followed by six months North Caroline State University.

In April 1942 he was drafted into the U.S. Army and received training at Fort Wolters, Texas, and Fort Benning, Georgia. He served in Europe as a First Lieutenant with Company L, Fifteenth Infantry Regiment, Third Infantry Division.

After the war he went back to the North Caroline State University and received his Master's degree in 1948. He married with Anna Morris of Laurenburg, North Carolina in 1949. The couple had two sons and three daughters.
Eli Whiteley died on December 2nd, 1986 and was buried in Section F, Lot 20, Space 8, of College Station Cemetery, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, United States.

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Medal of Honor - Army (MoH)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: 1st Lieutenant
Unit:: Company L, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division "The Rock of the Marne", U.S. Army
Awarded on:: September 14th, 1945

Citation:
"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company L, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. While leading his platoon on 27 December 1944, in savage house-to-house fighting through the fortress town of Sigolsheim, France, he attacked a building through a street swept by withering mortar and automatic weapons fire. He was hit and severely wounded in the arm and shoulder; but he charged into the house alone and killed its 2 defenders. Hurling smoke and fragmentation grenades before him, he reached the next house and stormed inside, killing 2 and capturing 11 of the enemy. He continued leading his platoon in the extremely dangerous task of clearing hostile troops from strong points along the street until he reached a building held by fanatical Nazi troops. Although suffering from wounds which had rendered his left arm useless, he advanced on this strongly defended house, and after blasting out a wall with bazooka fire, charged through a hail of bullets. Wedging his submachinegun under his uninjured arm, he rushed into the house through the hole torn by his rockets, killed 5 of the enemy and forced the remaining 12 to surrender. As he emerged to continue his fearless attack, he was again hit and critically wounded. In agony and with 1 eye pierced by a shell fragment, he shouted for his men to follow him to the next house. He was determined to stay in the fighting, and remained at the head of his platoon until forcibly evacuated. By his disregard for personal safety, his aggressiveness while suffering from severe wounds, his determined leadership and superb courage, 1st Lt. Whiteley killed 9 Germans, captured 23 more and spearheaded an attack which cracked the core of enemy resistance in a vital area."

General Order No. 79, September 14th, 1945.
Presented by President Truman on August 23rd, 1945.