Medal of Honor: Ellis R. Weicht – World War II – December 3, 1944

Name: Ellis R. Weicht
Rank: Sergeant
Organization: U.S. Army
Unit: Company F, 142nd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division
Place and Date: St. Hippolyte, France – 3 December 1944
Entered Service At: Bedford, Pennsylvania
Born: Clearville, Pennsylvania – 1916
Departed: December 3, 1944 (Killed in Action)
Accredited To: Pennsylvania

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Summary of Action

On December 3, 1944, during the attack on the strategic town of St. Hippolyte in Alsace, Sergeant Ellis R. Weicht commanded an assault squad pushing down a twisting, narrow street under intense enemy resistance. He cleared houses methodically as he advanced, driving his men forward through the maze of fire-swept stone buildings.

When two enemy machineguns opened up from the door and window of a house 100 yards ahead, his squad was pinned down. Weicht dashed forward to a rock wall, exposing himself to the guns while firing two clips from his rifle. When that failed to silence them, he entered a house directly across from the enemy position and killed both hostile gunners with precise fire from an upstairs window.

Resuming the assault, the company was halted again — this time by two 20-mm guns firing directly into their ranks. Ordered to evacuate the shelling zone so friendly artillery could strike the target, Weicht stayed behind, continuing to fire at the enemy while rounds crashed around him. When the barrage lifted and enemy troops attempted to move their gun, he killed two crewmen and forced the rest to flee.

He pushed on, still leading his squad, until he spotted a roadblock about 125 yards ahead. Taking position on the second floor of a nearby house, he killed three enemy soldiers and wounded several others. Immediately marked by enemy gunners, Weicht continued firing with extraordinary effectiveness until a direct hit from an antitank gun killed him.

His leadership and courage opened the way for the advance through St. Hippolyte.

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Medal of Honor Citation

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.

Birth: Clearville, Pa.

G.O. No.: 58, 19 July 1945.

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.