Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Second Lieutenant Ernest "Chief" Childers received the Medal of Honor for his actions on September 22, 1943 in Oliveto, Italy during World War II. At the time he was serving with Company C, 180th Infantry, 45th Infantry Division. Childers was 25 years old.
The medal was presented on April 22, 1944. Naples, Italy, presented by Lt. Gen. Jacob L. Devers on battlefield. He later rose to the rank of Colonel.
Childers was born on February 1, 1918 in Broken Arrow, Tulsa County, Oklahoma. His Medal of Honor is credited to Tulsa, Tulsa County, Oklahoma. Childers died on March 17, 2005 in Coweta, Oklahoma, at the age of 87. He is buried at Floral Haven Cemetery in Crypt at Veterans Field of Honor, Oklahoma.
Childers is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 25 credited to Oklahoma.
Official Medal of Honor citation
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 eight enlisted men, advanced up a hill toward enemy machine-gun 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 two 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 two occupants of the nest raised up, he shot one. The other was killed by one of the eight enlisted men. 2d Lt. Childers continued his advance toward a house farther up the hill, and singlehandedly, 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.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and injuries
What the citation records about his wounds:
Although 2d Lt. Childers previously had just suffered a fractured instep, he, with eight enlisted men, advanced up a hill toward enemy machine-gun nests.
- Age at death: 87
- Resting place: Floral Haven Cemetery
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: Italian Campaign, World War II.
Life beyond the battlefield
- Education: Chilocco Indian Agricultural School
Source: Wikidata.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Oklahoma →
Timeline
- February 1, 1918Born in Broken Arrow, Tulsa County, Oklahoma
- September 22, 1943Act of valor — Oliveto, ItalyAge 25. Company C, 180th Infantry, 45th Infantry Division
- April 22, 1944Medal of Honor presentedNaples, Italy, presented by Lt. Gen. Jacob L. Devers on battlefield
- March 17, 2005Died in Coweta, OklahomaAge 87.
- Resting placeFloral Haven CemeteryCrypt at Veterans Field of Honor, Oklahoma
Biography
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 valorous actions in World War II.
From the Wikipedia article “Ernest Childers”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
