Magna Carta News
Saturday, March 26, 2005
House Honors WWII Medal of Honor Recipient
Contact: Dave Bond, Media Specialist
Oklahoma House of Representatives
(405)962-7671
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: State Rep. Ron Peterson
Capitol: (405) 557-7338
Broken Arrow: (918) 451-1548
House Honors WWII Medal of Honor Recipient
OKLAHOMA CITY(March 24, 2005) - The Oklahoma House of Representatives
today unanimously passed a resolution honoring an Oklahoman and Medal of
Honor Recipient who passed away last week.
House Resolution 1014, presented by Rep. Ron Peterson, pays respect to
Ernest Childers, a Native American who served as a member of the
National Guard's revered 45th "Thunderbird" Division during World War
II.
Childers died last Thursday in Muskogee at the age of 87.
"It is important for us to never forget the men and women who have
fought and died to secure our liberties throughout our nation's
history," said Peterson, R-Broken Arrow. "I sincerely hope our young
people will follow the example of Ernest Childers and others like him
who laid their lives on the line for all Americans."
Born and raised in Broken Arrow, Childers enlisted in the 45th Division,
Company C, 180th Infantry, and saw action in the European Theater during
the war.
According to the resolution, while on duty in Italy on Sept. 22, 1943,
Childers "almost single handedly eliminated two German machine gun
emplacements and captured an enemy mortar observer, thus saving his men
and exhibiting bravery and courage above and beyond the call of duty."
Childers was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions.
Before entering the Armed Forces, Childers attended the Chilocco Indian
School at Chilocco. Broken Arrow's Ernest Childers Middle School was
named in his honor.
The resolution also tells how Childers, upon retiring from the military
as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1965, "devoted much of his time to helping
Indian youths."
Peterson said Childers and other members of America's "greatest
generation" are great role models for future generations. He added that
Oklahomans should appreciate all of the state's military personnel.
"Whether they fought against Nazism, Fascism, Communism or Terrorism, we
must never forget the sacrifices our fighting men and women have made in
order for freedom to endure," Peterson said.
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Contact: Dave Bond, Media Specialist
Oklahoma House of Representatives
(405)962-7671
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: State Rep. Ron Peterson
Capitol: (405) 557-7338
Broken Arrow: (918) 451-1548
House Honors WWII Medal of Honor Recipient
OKLAHOMA CITY(March 24, 2005) - The Oklahoma House of Representatives
today unanimously passed a resolution honoring an Oklahoman and Medal of
Honor Recipient who passed away last week.
House Resolution 1014, presented by Rep. Ron Peterson, pays respect to
Ernest Childers, a Native American who served as a member of the
National Guard's revered 45th "Thunderbird" Division during World War
II.
Childers died last Thursday in Muskogee at the age of 87.
"It is important for us to never forget the men and women who have
fought and died to secure our liberties throughout our nation's
history," said Peterson, R-Broken Arrow. "I sincerely hope our young
people will follow the example of Ernest Childers and others like him
who laid their lives on the line for all Americans."
Born and raised in Broken Arrow, Childers enlisted in the 45th Division,
Company C, 180th Infantry, and saw action in the European Theater during
the war.
According to the resolution, while on duty in Italy on Sept. 22, 1943,
Childers "almost single handedly eliminated two German machine gun
emplacements and captured an enemy mortar observer, thus saving his men
and exhibiting bravery and courage above and beyond the call of duty."
Childers was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions.
Before entering the Armed Forces, Childers attended the Chilocco Indian
School at Chilocco. Broken Arrow's Ernest Childers Middle School was
named in his honor.
The resolution also tells how Childers, upon retiring from the military
as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1965, "devoted much of his time to helping
Indian youths."
Peterson said Childers and other members of America's "greatest
generation" are great role models for future generations. He added that
Oklahomans should appreciate all of the state's military personnel.
"Whether they fought against Nazism, Fascism, Communism or Terrorism, we
must never forget the sacrifices our fighting men and women have made in
order for freedom to endure," Peterson said.
-30-
