World War II Medal of Honor Recipient. He received the award posthumously on July 19, 1945 for his actions as a sergeant in Company F, 142nd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, US Army, on December 3, 1944, at Saint Hippolyte, France. He joined the US Army in February 1942, following the US entry into World War II. After his recruit and combat training, he was sent to the European Theater of Operations where he participated in the Allied D-Day invasion of Normandy, France. On that day, he single-handedly attacked two hostile gun emplacements before being killed while attacking an enemy road block. He was also awarded the Purple Heart. His Medal of Honor citation reads: "For commanding an assault squad in Company F's attack against the strategically important Alsatian town of St. Hippolyte on 3 December 1944. He aggressively led his men down a winding street, clearing the houses of opposition as he advanced. Upon rounding a bend, the group was suddenly brought under the fire of two machine guns emplaced in the door and window of a house 100 yards distant. While his squad members took cover, Sgt. Weicht moved rapidly forward to a high rock wall and, fearlessly exposing himself to the enemy action, fired two clips of ammunition from his rifle. His fire proving ineffective, he entered a house opposite the enemy gun position, and, firing from a window, killed the two hostile gunners. Continuing the attack, the advance was again halted when two 20-mm guns opened fire on the company. An artillery observer ordered friendly troops to evacuate the area and then directed artillery fire upon the gun positions. Sgt. Weicht remained in the shelled area and continued to fire on the hostile weapons. When the barrage lifted and the enemy soldiers attempted to remove their gun, he killed two crewmembers and forced the others to flee. Sgt. Weicht continued to lead his squad forward until he spotted a road block approximately 125 yards away. Moving to the second floor of a nearby house and firing from a window, he killed three and wounded several of the enemy. Instantly becoming a target for heavy and direct fire, he disregarded personal safety to continue his fire, with unusual effectiveness, until he was killed by a direct hit from an antitank gun."
World War II Medal of Honor Recipient. He received the award posthumously on July 19, 1945 for his actions as a sergeant in Company F, 142nd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, US Army, on December 3, 1944, at Saint Hippolyte, France. He joined the US Army in February 1942, following the US entry into World War II. After his recruit and combat training, he was sent to the European Theater of Operations where he participated in the Allied D-Day invasion of Normandy, France. On that day, he single-handedly attacked two hostile gun emplacements before being killed while attacking an enemy road block. He was also awarded the Purple Heart. His Medal of Honor citation reads: "For commanding an assault squad in Company F's attack against the strategically important Alsatian town of St. Hippolyte on 3 December 1944. He aggressively led his men down a winding street, clearing the houses of opposition as he advanced. Upon rounding a bend, the group was suddenly brought under the fire of two machine guns emplaced in the door and window of a house 100 yards distant. While his squad members took cover, Sgt. Weicht moved rapidly forward to a high rock wall and, fearlessly exposing himself to the enemy action, fired two clips of ammunition from his rifle. His fire proving ineffective, he entered a house opposite the enemy gun position, and, firing from a window, killed the two hostile gunners. Continuing the attack, the advance was again halted when two 20-mm guns opened fire on the company. An artillery observer ordered friendly troops to evacuate the area and then directed artillery fire upon the gun positions. Sgt. Weicht remained in the shelled area and continued to fire on the hostile weapons. When the barrage lifted and the enemy soldiers attempted to remove their gun, he killed two crewmembers and forced the others to flee. Sgt. Weicht continued to lead his squad forward until he spotted a road block approximately 125 yards away. Moving to the second floor of a nearby house and firing from a window, he killed three and wounded several of the enemy. Instantly becoming a target for heavy and direct fire, he disregarded personal safety to continue his fire, with unusual effectiveness, until he was killed by a direct hit from an antitank gun."
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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See more Weicht memorials in:
Records on Ancestry
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Ellis R. Weicht
1940 United States Federal Census
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Ellis R. Weicht
1930 United States Federal Census
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Ellis R. Weicht
1920 United States Federal Census
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Ellis R. Weicht
U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947
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Ellis R. Weicht
U.S., War Department, Press Releases and Related Records, 1942-1945
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