1. Ernest Childers 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.
10 Facts About Ernest Childers
1. 2.
In 1937, Ernest Childers joined the Oklahoma Army National Guard and was assigned to the 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division.
3.
Ernest Childers was the first Native American to earn the medal since the Indian Wars of the 19th century.
4.
Ernest Childers reached the rank of lieutenant colonel before retiring from the Army.
5.
Ernest Childers' was recovering from wounds in Naples when he was presented with the official Medal of Honor by General Jacob Devers.
6.
Ernest Childers previously had just suffered a fractured instep he, with 8 enlisted men, advanced up a hill toward enemy machinegun nests.
7.
Ernest Childers ordered a base of fire laid across the field so that he could advance.
8.
Ernest Childers moved behind the machinegun nests and killed all occupants of the nearer one.
9.
Ernest Childers continued toward the second one and threw rocks into it.
10.
Ernest Childers continued his advance toward a house farther up the hill and, single-handed, captured an enemy mortar observer.