World War II Honoree

Roland A. Ehlers

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Junction City, Kansas

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: SERGEANT. INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY OCTOBER 3, 1940 AT FORT RILEY, KANSAS. SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE VAST ARMADA THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, OPERATION OVERLORD, D-DAY, TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1944. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 18TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 1ST INFANTRY ‘BIG RED ONE’ DIVISION ATTACHED TO THE U.S. 1ST ARMY. KILLED IN ACTION DURING THE ASSAULT WHEN AN ENEMY MORTAR HIT HIS LANDING CRAFT WHILE IT WAS APPROACHING OMAHA BEACH WITH THE 1ST WAVE AT 0630 HOURS. CAMPAIGNS AND BATTLES: NORTH AFRICA, SICILIAN AND NORMANDY. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO KANSAS FOR BURIAL, WITH INTERMENT IN A PRIVATE CEMETERY.