Medal of Honor: Eli Whiteley – World War II – France – December 1944

Name: Eli Whiteley
Rank: First Lieutenant
Organization: U.S. Army
Unit: Company L, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division
Place: Sigolsheim, France
Entered Service At: Georgetown, Texas
Born: Florence, Texas

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Summary of Action

On 27 December 1944, First Lieutenant Eli Whiteley led his platoon during savage house-to-house fighting in the fortress town of Sigolsheim, France. Advancing through streets swept by intense mortar, machinegun, and small-arms fire, his unit encountered fanatically defended enemy strongpoints embedded within the buildings lining the roadway.

Despite being severely wounded early in the attack, Lieutenant Whiteley charged alone into enemy-held houses, killing defenders at close range and forcing others to surrender. He moved relentlessly from structure to structure, hurling grenades, firing his weapon at point-blank distance, and personally leading assaults that cracked hardened German positions.

Though his wounds rendered one arm useless and left him bleeding and in agony, Lieutenant Whiteley refused evacuation. Wedging his submachinegun under his remaining arm, he continued to lead from the front—killing enemy soldiers, capturing prisoners, and urging his men forward through the most dangerous sectors of the street fight. Only after being critically wounded again was he forcibly removed from the battlefield. His fearless leadership and relentless aggression broke the core of enemy resistance and enabled the advance to succeed.

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Medal of Honor Citation

While leading his platoon on 27 December 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.