Ellis R. Weicht-Epinal, Lorraine, France
Posted by: 
Don.Morfe
N 48° 08.670 E 006° 29.886
32U E 313897 N 5335388
World War II Medal of Honor Recipient for action at St. Hippolyte, France on December 3, 1944. He was killed in action. He is buried in Epinal American Cemetery, Epinal, Departement des Vosges, Lorraine, France in Section B, Row 42, Site 20.
Waymark Code: WMXCBX
Location: Grand-Est, France
Date Posted: 12/26/2017
Views: 2
He was born on April 17, 1916 in Clearville, PA and died on December 3, 1944 in Saint-Hippolyte, Alsace, France. His Medal of Honor information and citation is: *WEICHT, ELLIS R.
• Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company F, 142d Infantry, 36th Infantry Division
• Place and date St. Hippolyte, France, 3 December 1944
• Entered service at: Bedford, Pa.
• G.O. No.: 58, 19 July 1945
Citation: 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 2 machineguns 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 2 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 2 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 2 crewmembers and forced the others to flee. Sgt. 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 3 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.
Armed Service: Army
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