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Eli Whiteley
FULL
MEDAL OF HONOR
CITATION
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Place: Sigolsheim,
France
Date: Dec. 27, 1944
Rank and organization: 1Lt, US Army, Co L, 15th Inf, 3d Inf Division |
The
President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March
3, 1863, has awarded in the name of The Congress the Medal of Honor to
1st Lieutenant
Franklin Earl Sigler
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
*WHITELEY, ELI
Inducted: Georgetown, Tex. Born: Florence, Tex. G.O.#79, 14 Sep 1945.
Citation: While leading his platoon on 27 Dec 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 submachinegun 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.
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