SSG Walt Ehlers passes

GruntSgt sends us the sad news that Walt Ehlers, a World War II Medal of Honor hero has passed at the tender age of 92. The OC Register tells us that he lost his brother, Roland on D-Day when the landing craft he was riding to the beach was struck by a mortar round. Walt, on another craft, survived his charge up the beach and on into history. His citation reads;

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 9-10 June 1944, near Goville, France. S/Sgt. Ehlers, always acting as the spearhead of the attack, repeatedly led his men against heavily defended enemy strong points exposing himself to deadly hostile fire whenever the situation required heroic and courageous leadership. Without waiting for an order, S/Sgt. Ehlers, far ahead of his men, led his squad against a strongly defended enemy strong point, personally killing 4 of an enemy patrol who attacked him en route. Then crawling forward under withering machinegun fire, he pounced upon the guncrew and put it out of action. Turning his attention to 2 mortars protected by the crossfire of 2 machineguns, S/Sgt. Ehlers led his men through this hail of bullets to kill or put to flight the enemy of the mortar section, killing 3 men himself. After mopping up the mortar positions, he again advanced on a machinegun, his progress effectively covered by his squad. When he was almost on top of the gun he leaped to his feet and, although greatly outnumbered, he knocked out the position single-handed. The next day, having advanced deep into enemy territory, the platoon of which S/Sgt. Ehlers was a member, finding itself in an untenable position as the enemy brought increased mortar, machinegun, and small arms fire to bear on it, was ordered to withdraw. S/Sgt. Ehlers, after his squad had covered the withdrawal of the remainder of the platoon, stood up and by continuous fire at the semicircle of enemy placements, diverted the bulk of the heavy hostile fire on himself, thus permitting the members of his own squad to withdraw. At this point, though wounded himself, he carried his wounded automatic rifleman to safety and then returned fearlessly over the shell-swept field to retrieve the automatic rifle which he was unable to carry previously. After having his wound treated, he refused to be evacuated, and returned to lead his squad.

TSO was lucky enough to toss back adult beverages with Mr. Ehlers about 14 years ago and had this exchange with him;

When I went to the 2000 inaugural ball, I found myself at the event drinking with Walter Ehlers, Medal of Honor recipient from the 1st ID in the week following D-Day. We were throwing down adult beverages at quite the prolific rate when he turned and asked me “Son, you ain’t *funny* are you?” “Funny sir? No, I’m not funny.” “Then why in the hell are you sitting with an old man when there are so many hot young women around.”

Mr. Ehlers is also one of the recipients featured on the Medal of Honor stamps.

Category: Blue Skies