Ellis R. Weicht

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Sergeant Ellis R. Weicht, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty while commanding an assault squad in Company F, 142d Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, in the attack against the strategically important Alsatian town of St. Hippolyte on 3 December 1944. Sergeant Weicht 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 machineguns emplaced in the door and window of a house 100 yards distant. While his squad members took cover, Sergeant 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. Sergeant 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. Sergeant Weicht continued to lead his squad forward until he spotted a road block approximate 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.

General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 58, July 19, 1945

Action Date: 3-Dec-44

Service: Army

Rank: Sergeant

Company: Company F

Regiment: 142d Infantry Regiment

Division: 36th Infantry Division