"While leading his platoon on December 27, 1944, in savage house-to-house fighting through the fortress
town of Sigolsheim, France, he attacked a building through a street
swept by withering mortar and automatic weapons fire. He was hit and
severely wounded in the arm and shoulder; but he charged into the house
alone and killed its 2 defenders. Hurling smoke and fragmentation
grenades before him, he reached the next house and stormed inside,
killing 2 and capturing 11 of the enemy. He continued leading his
platoon in the extremely dangerous task of clearing hostile troops from
strong points along the street until he reached a building held by
fanatical Nazi troops. Although suffering from wounds which had rendered
his left arm useless, he advanced on this strongly defended house, and
after blasting out a wall with bazooka fire, charged through a hail of
bullets. Wedging his sub-machine gun under his uninjured arm, he rushed
into the house through the hole torn by his rockets, killed 5 of the
enemy and forced the remaining 12 to surrender. As he emerged to
continue his fearless attack, he was again hit and critically wounded. In agony and with 1 eye pierced by a shell fragment, he shouted for his
men to follow him to the next house. He was determined to stay in the
fighting, and remained at the head of his platoon until forcibly
evacuated. By his disregard for personal safety, his aggressiveness
while suffering from severe wounds, his determined leadership and superb
courage, 1st Lt. Whiteley killed 9 Germans, captured 23 more and spearheaded an attack which cracked the core of enemy resistance in a vital area."
From 1st Lt. Whiteley's Medal of Honor citation, awarded in 1945.
A true American ass kicker!
Brian & Melonie
Eli L. Whiteley's Medal of Honor on display at Texas A&M University
Eli L. Whiteley Medal of Honor Park revitalization vid
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