Llewellyn Morris Chilson | |
|---|---|
 Master Sergeant Llewellyn Chilson, U.S. Army | |
| Nickname | "Al" |
| Born | (1920-04-01)April 1, 1920 Dayton, Ohio, United States |
| Died | October 2, 1981(1981-10-02) (aged 61) |
| Buried | Mountain View Memorial Park, Lakewood, Washington |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| Service years | 1942–1946 1947–1964 |
| Rank | Master Sergeant |
| Unit |
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| Conflicts | |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Cross (3) Silver Star (3) Legion of Merit Bronze Star (2) with"V" Device Army Commendation Medal Purple Heart (3) Combat Infantryman Badge |
Llewellyn Morris Chilson (April 1, 1920 – October 2, 1981) was aUnited States Armymaster sergeant and one of the most decorated American soldiers ofWorld War II. He received twelve individual decorations for combat from the U.S. Army including seven decorations for valor. After the war, thePresident of the United States personally decorated Chilson with seven decorations including threeDistinguished Services Crosses for extraordinary heroism inGermany.[1][2]
Llewellyn Chilson was born on April 1, 1920, inDayton, Ohio. He was the second son of Frank and Goldia Chilson, his father aWorld War I veteran. The family moved toAkron, Ohio where his father worked as a bus driver. In 1930, his mother was struck and killed by a truck in front of their home. Chilson grew up on the rough streets of South Akron. He leftSouth High School at age 16, taking a truck driving job hauling freight across the country. His older brother,Staff Sergeant Alvin M. Chilson, waskilled in action serving with the37th Infantry Division in thePhilippines on February 16, 1945.[3]
Chilson wasinducted into the U.S. Army on March 28, 1942, during World War II. He reported toFort Benjamin Harrison,Indiana for his basic training. After basic training, he was transferred toCamp Livingston,Louisiana for more training and then to Camp Johnson,Florida for amphibious training with the112th Infantry Regiment. He was transferred toFort Pickett,Virginia and the45th Infantry Division ("Thunderbirds") in May 1942 and became a member of Anti-Tank Company, 2nd Battalion,179th Infantry Regiment.
Chilson and his unit landed inOran, Algeria on June 22, 1943, and prepared for theInvasion of Sicily (July 10, 1943).
During the Sicily campaign, Chilson received theCombat Infantryman Badge (later awarded theBronze Star Medal based on award of the CIB) for combat actions on July 11 to 31, 1943.[4] In February 1944, the 45th Division reinforced the beachhead atAnzio. He received aPurple Heart for being wounded byshrapnel near Carroceto,Italy on February 15, 1944.[5] On February 16, near Aprilia, Italy, he and three other American soldiers were captured by German soldiers after running out of ammunition in a firefight and were made litter-bearers for the German forces. The four American soldiers managed to escape on February 17, taking four enemy prisoners with them. This then led to the capture of 40 enemy soldiers by Chilson. He was awarded aSilver Star.[5][6][7]
Chilson participated in the invasion ofSouthern France (Operation Dragoon) on August 15, 1944. He was transferred to Second Platoon, Company "G", 2nd Battalion, 179th Infantry. On October 28, he managed to capture a hill taking 25 enemy prisoners. He was awarded a second Silver Star (bronzeoak leaf cluster) for actions near Denshein, France on November 26, 1944.[5]
Chilson was recommended for theMedal of Honor by Lt. William M. Owens,[8] Second Platoon leader, for defending an indefensible position atMulhausen nearGumbrechtshoffen, France, on November 30, 1944.[9] On December 27, he became the platoon sergeant of Second Platoon, Company G.
Chilson was again recommended for the Medal of Honor for a series of heroic actions in Germany from March 26–31, 1945. This included his taking over 200 enemy prisoners. He was awarded aDistinguished Service Cross (for actions on March 26), a third Silver Star (2nd bronze oak leaf cluster), aLegion of Merit, and a Bronze Star Medal with"V" Device for these actions.[5]
He was also awarded a second and third Distinguished Service Cross (1st and 2nd bronze oak leaf cluster) for his actions on April 25 and 27, and aPurple Heart (2nd bronze oak leaf cluster) for his wounds received on April 26, nearNeuberg.[5]
At the end of April 1945, Chilson was sent to and hospitalized inStockbridge, England at the U.S. Army's 34th General Hospital stationed there. While hospitalized, he met a U.S. Army nurse named Mary Armstrong, whom he married later that year.
He returned to Ft. Benjamin Harrison, Indiana in June 1945. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army on June 30, 1946.[7]
PresidentHarry Truman personally decorated former T/Sgt. Llewellyn Chilson with seven individual combat decorations (six for valor) at aWhite House ceremony in the presence of Chilson's wife, baby daughter, and parents on December 6, 1946.[10] Truman said, "This is the most remarkable list of citations I have ever seen. For any one of these, this young man is entitled to all the Country has to offer. These ought to be worth a Medal of Honor---that's what I think about it."[3] Chilson had been recommended for the Medal of Honor, which was approved by GeneralJoseph T. McNarney, the commanding general of the U.S. Forces in the European Theater. However, the War Department found Chilson's actions commendable, but not worthy of the Medal of Honor.[1]
Chilson re-enlisted into the U.S. Army on November 17, 1947. He waived his 40% disability and became an Army Recruiter. In 1952, Chilson was sent toFort Hood to help trainNational Guardsman and met legendary soldierAudie Murphy.[11] Chilson was considered to be the second most decorated soldier of World War II by theNational Guard Association.[12] On May 24, 1961, Chilson was one of only four survivors of the crash of aUSAFDouglas C-124A Globemaster II that killed 24.[13]
He retired from the U.S. Army as amaster sergeant in 1964.
Chilson lived inTacoma, Washington after he retired from the army where he managed a gas station and was a taxi cab driver. He later moved toPuyallup, Washington.
Chilson died at age 61 on October 2, 1981, while on vacation inTampa, Florida. He is buried in the veterans section at Mountain View Memorial Park inLakewood, Washington (Lakewood was incorporated in 1996) and is honored with a memorial dedicated to him.[14]
Chilson's military awards and decorations include twelve individual decorations for combat he received from the U.S. Army for World War II: three Distinguished Service Crosses, three Silver Stars, one Legion of Merit, two Bronze Star Medals (one for heroism), and three Purple Hearts.[15] Seven of the twelve medals are decorations for valor.
Chilson received the following military awards and decorations:
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Chilson's personal awards and honors include:
Notes
Awarded to 45th Infantry Division for the period 1–31 January 1944/ Department of the Army General Order 43-50(GO 43, 1950)
Bibliography
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