Childers, Ernest "Red Eagle"

45th Infantry Division

Date of birth:: February 1st, 1918 (Broken Arrow/Oklahoma, United States)
Date of death:: March 17th, 2005
Nationality:: American

Biography

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Medal of Honor - Army (MoH)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: 2nd Lieutenant
Unit:: Company C, 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division "Thunderbird", U.S. Army
Awarded on:: April 8th, 1944

"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in action on 22 September 1943, at Oliveto, Italy. Although 2d Lt. Childers previously had just suffered a fractured instep he, with 8 enlisted men, advanced up a hill toward enemy machinegun nests. The group advanced to a rock wall overlooking a cornfield and 2d Lt. Childers ordered a base of fire laid across the field so that he could advance. When he was fired upon by 2 enemy snipers from a nearby house he killed both of them. He moved behind the machinegun nests and killed all occupants of the nearer one. He continued toward the second one and threw rocks into it. When the 2 occupants of the nest raised up, he shot 1. The other was killed by 1 of the 8 enlisted men. 2d Lt. Childers continued his advance toward a house farther up the hill, and single-handed, captured an enemy mortar observer. The exceptional leadership, initiative, calmness under fire, and conspicuous gallantry displayed by 2d Lt. Childers were an inspiration to his men."

Purple Heart

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Bronze Star Medal (BSM)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Combat Infantryman Badge

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Croce Al Valore di Guerra

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

American Defence Service Medal

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

American Campaign Medal

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

World War Two Victory Medal

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Army of Occupation Medal

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

National Defense Service Medal (NDSM)

Oklahoma Distinguished Service Cross

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Sources

Photo: Home of Heroes
- Jordan, Kenneth N., Yesterday’s Heroes – 433 men of World War II awarded the Medal of Honor 1941-1945, Schiffer Publishing Ltd., USA, 1996
- Whitlock, F., The Rock of Anzio – From Sicily to Dachau: A History of the U.S. 45th Infantry Division, Westview Press, Boulder, USA, 1998
- Fisher, G.A., The Story of the 180th Infantry Regiment, Newsfoto Publishing Co., San Angelo, Texas, 1947
- Lt. Col Ernest Childers | Floral Haven | Funeral Home | Cemetery | Cremation