Ernest Childers
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ernest Childers | |
|---|---|
| February 1, 1918 – March 17, 2005 (aged 87) | |
 Ernest Childers, Medal of Honor recipient |
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| Place of birth | Broken Arrow, Oklahoma |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Army |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Unit | 45th Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
Ernest Childers (February 1, 1918 – March 17, 2005) was a United States Army officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.
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[edit] Biography
Childers joined the Army from Tulsa, Oklahoma, and by September 22, 1943 was serving as a second lieutenant in the 45th Infantry Division. On that day, at Oliveto, Italy, he single-handedly killed two enemy snipers, attacked two machine gun nests, and captured an artillery observer. For these actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor seven months later, on April 8, 1944.
Childers reached the rank of lieutenant colonel before retiring from the Army. He died at age 87 and was buried at Floral Haven Memorial Gardens in his birth place of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.
[edit] Medal of Honor citation
Childers' official Medal of Honor citation reads:
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.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Ernest Childers at Find A Grave Retrieved on 2008-02-20
- Medal of Honor Recipients - World War II (A-F). Medal of Honor Citations. U.S. Army Center of Military History (July 16, 2007). Retrieved on 2008-02-20.
