Saturday, March 1, 2014

Medal of Honor Recipient Walter Ehlers Dies

Walter Ehlers, the last living Medal of Honor recipient to storm Omaha Beach on D-Day, died Thursday at age 92, reported NBC News. Born on May 7, 1921, in Junction City, Kan., Ehlers joined the Army in 1940. He received the MOH as a staff sergeant with the 1st Infantry Division for his conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in combat against German forces near Goville, France, on June 9-10, 1944, several days after D-Day, according to his award citation, posted at the Congressional Medal of Honor Society website. Ehlers "repeatedly led his men against heavily defended enemy strong points, exposing himself to deadly hostile fire," reads the citation. He was wounded during the action. He left the Army as a second lieutenant after five years of service, reported the Daily Caller. He went on to become an advocate for military veterans' benefits and worked as a security guard at Disneyland when it opened in southern California, according to the press reports.

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