World War II Honoree

Ernest 'Chief' Childers

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

Honored By

Friends of American Heroes

AN AMERICAN INDIAN, HE SERVED WITH THE 45TH INFANTRY DIVISION. ON SEPTEMBER 22, 1943 AT OLIVETO, ITALY, INVOLVED IN COMBAT THAT WOULD EARN HIM THE MEDAL OF HONOR. CITATION READS AS FOLLOWS: FOR CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY AND INTREPIDITY AT RISK OF LIFE ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY IN ACTION ON SEPTEMBER 22, 1943 AT OLIVETO, ITALY. ALTHOUGH 2ND LIEUTENANT CHILDERS PREVIOUSLY HAD JUST SUFFERED A FRACTURED INSTEP HE, WITH 8 ENLISTED MEN, ADVANCED UP A HILL TOWARD ENEMY MACHINE GUN NESTS. THE GROUP ADVANCED TO A ROCK WALL OVERLOOKING A CORNFIELD AND HE 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 MACHINE GUN 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. HE CONTINUED HIS ADVANCE TOWARD A HOUSE FARTHER UP THE HILL, AND SINGLE-HANDEDLY, CAPTURED AN ENEMY MORTAR OBSERVER. THE EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP, INITIATIVE, CALMNESS UNDER FIRE, AND CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY DISPLAYED BY 2ND LIEUTENANT CHILDERS WERE AN INSPIRATION TO HIS MEN.