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United States Army 2nd Lt. Ernest Childers
CHILDERS, “Chief” ERNEST (Cherokee)
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army,
45th Infantry Division. Place and date: At Oliveto, Italy, 22
September 1943. Entered service at: Tulsa, Okla. Birth:
Broken Arrow, Okla. G.O. No.: 30, 8 April 1944.
United States Army Second Leutinant Ernest Childers
Warriors 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 2nd Lt. Childers previously had just suffered a fractured instep he, with 8 enlisted warriors,
advanced up a hill toward enemy machinegun nests. The group advanced to a rock wall overlooking a cornfield and 2nd 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
warriors. 2nd 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 2nd Lt.
Childers were an inspiration to his fellow warriors. From: historical accounts & records
LINK TO BRAVEHORSE WARRIORS VOLUME TWO
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