World War II Honoree

Walter D. Ehlers

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Buena Park, California

Honored By

John Peterson

HE EARNED HIS MEDAL OF HONOR FOR CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY AND INTREPIDITY AT THE RISK OF HIS LIFE ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY, ON JUNE 9 AND 10, 1944. DURING BATTLE NEAR GOVILLE, FRANCE, HE WENT AHEAD OF HIS MEN TO DEFEND HIS SQUAD AGAINST THE ENEMY. HE BLOCKED HIS MEN FROM GUNFIRE AND EVEN AFTER HE WAS WOUNDED IN THE BACK, CARRIED A RIFLEMAN TO SAFETY AND THEN RETURNED TO THE BATTLEGROUND TO RETRIEVE HIS RIFLE. HE REFUSED TO LEAVE HIS SQUAD AFTER HIS WOUND WAS TREATED. HE ALSO EARNED THREE PURPLE HEARTS AND A SILVER STAR DURING HIS SERVICE WITH THE 3RD INFANTRY DIVISION AND THE 1ST INFANTRY DIVISION.