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Ernest Childers

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Years of service
  
1937–1966

Rank
  
Lieutenant colonel

Awards
  
Name
  
Ernest Childers


Ernest Childers 15155 Garand Picture of The Day Ernest Childers MOH

Born
  
February 1, 1918Broken Arrow, Oklahoma (
1918-02-01
)

Place of burial
  
Floral Haven Memorial Gardens, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

Allegiance
  
United States of America

Battles/wars
  
World War IIItalian Campaign

Died
  
March 17, 2005, Muskogee, Oklahoma, United States

Battles and wars
  
Italian Campaign, World War II

Service/branch
  

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.

Contents

Ernest Childers Lt Ernest Childers awarded the Medal of Honor in Italy on

Copy of ernest childers middle school women s choir practice to perform in branson


Biography

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Childers was born in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, on February 1, 1918. A Muscogee (Creek) Indian, he graduated from the Chilocco Indian Agricultural School in north-central Oklahoma. Coincidentally, Jack C. Montgomery, who also earned the Medal of Honor in World War II for service in Italy, graduated from the same school.

Ernest Childers FileLt Ernest Childers a Creek being congratulated by

In 1937, Childers joined the Oklahoma Army National Guard and was assigned to the 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division. After the U.S. entry into World War II, he was sent to Europe and by September 22, 1943, he was a second lieutenant serving with 45th Infantry Division, 180th Infantry Regiment, in Italy. On that day, at Oliveto, 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. He was the first Native American to earn the medal since the Indian Wars of the 19th century.

Ernest Childers ExplorePAHistorycom Image

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 birthplace of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

Ernest Childers Photo of Medal of Honor Recipient Ernest Childers

Before his death, a middle school was named in his honor, Ernest Childers Middle School which is a part of Broken Arrow Public Schools and services grades 6th through 8th grade. The Veteran's Administration Medical Center Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Tulsa, Oklahoma is named in his honor, the Ernest Childers Out Patient Clinic

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.

References

Ernest Childers Wikipedia


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