Llewellyn Morris Chilson
Encyclopedia
Master Sergeant
Llewellyn Morris Chilson (April 1, 1920--Oct. 10, 1981) was a United States Army career soldier who served heroically in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. Chilson performed remarkably on several occasions thoughout the war. The U.S. Army awarded him over a dozen decorations including three for "extraordinary heroism" and three for "gallantry in action". He was recommended for the Army Medal of Honor twice during the war...once, for holding an important and indefensible position against many enemy soldiers. The President of the United States personally decorated Chilson with seven combat medals for valor during a ceremony at the White House after the war.
. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Chilson, his father a World War I veteran. Chilson grew up on the tough streets of South Akron. Chilson left South High School at age 16 taking a truck driving job hauling freight across the country until he was inducted into the United States Army
in 1942. Army Staff Sergeant
Alvin Chilson, his older brother, was killed in action
in the Philippines on February 22, 1944.
, Indiana for basic training. He was sent afterwards to Camp Livingston
, Louisiana for amphibious training in the 112th Infantry. He was transferred later to Fort Pickett
, Virginia
and the 45th Infantry Division
. A member of Anti-Tank Company, 179th Infantry, his unit landed in Oran, Algeria on June 22, 1943 and prepared for the Invasion of Sicily (July 10, 1943). He was awarded a Bronze Star Medal. He was captured by the Germans on February 16, 1944, escaped, and took 40 of them prisoner on February 20 and was awarded a second Silver Star. He was transferred to "G" Company. He took command of 2nd Platoon, G Company, on March 26. He captured a hill and took 25 prisioners on October 28.
He later participated in operation Dragoon
(August 15, 1944); the invasion of southern France. He was awarded another Silver Star for actions on November 24 and recommended for a Medal of Honor on November 30. He was wounded by shell fragments on February 15, 1945. He was awarded a third Silver Star for actions on March 3. He was recommended for another Medal of Honor for his actions in taking over 200 prisoners on March 26. He was awarded the Legion of Merit, for actions during March 26--31 as temporary Platoon Leader. He was awarded two Distinguished Service Crosses for actions on April 25 and 27 and two Purple Hearts for actions on April 26 and 27 in Germany. He was sent to a hospital in England and was honorably discharged on June 30, 1946.
Three Distinguished Service Crosses, Three Silver Stars, Legion of Merit, Three Bronze Star Medals with Combat "V" (awarded two "V" devices), Three Purple Hearts, Presidential Unit Citation, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-Asiatic-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Silver Star (silver star =5 bronze campaign stars) and Amphibious Assault Arrowhead (four amphibious assaults), World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, French Croix de Guerre with Palm (War Cross medal; Unit Award), French Liberation Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, and Expert Badge with Rifle Bars.
Distinguished Service Cross
with Two Oak Leaf Clusters
Silver Star
with Two Oak Leaf Clusters
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
with Combat "V" and Two Oak Leaf Clusters
Purple Heart
with Two Oak Leaf Clusters
Presidential Unit Citation
Army Commendation Medal
Good Conduct Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
with One Silver Star and Arrowhead
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal
National Defense Service Medal
French Croix de Guerre with Palm
French Liberation Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge
Expert Badge with Rifle Bar
Master Sergeant
A master sergeant is the military rank for a senior non-commissioned officer in some armed forces.-Israel Defense Forces:Rav samal rishoninsignia IDF...
Llewellyn Morris Chilson (April 1, 1920--Oct. 10, 1981) was a United States Army career soldier who served heroically in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. Chilson performed remarkably on several occasions thoughout the war. The U.S. Army awarded him over a dozen decorations including three for "extraordinary heroism" and three for "gallantry in action". He was recommended for the Army Medal of Honor twice during the war...once, for holding an important and indefensible position against many enemy soldiers. The President of the United States personally decorated Chilson with seven combat medals for valor during a ceremony at the White House after the war.
Early years
Lewellyn Chilson was born on April 1, 1920 in Dayton, OhioDayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Chilson, his father a World War I veteran. Chilson grew up on the tough streets of South Akron. Chilson left South High School at age 16 taking a truck driving job hauling freight across the country until he was inducted into the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in 1942. Army Staff Sergeant
Staff Sergeant
Staff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in several countries.The origin of the name is that they were part of the staff of a British army regiment and paid at that level rather than as a member of a battalion or company.-Australia:...
Alvin Chilson, his older brother, was killed in action
Killed in action
Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to...
in the Philippines on February 22, 1944.
Military service in World War II
Chilson was inducted into the U.S. Army on March 28, 1942 and was sent to Fort Benjamin HarrisonFort Benjamin Harrison
Fort Benjamin Harrison was a U.S. Army post located in suburban Lawrence, Indiana, northeast of Indianapolis. It is named for the 23rd United States President, Benjamin Harrison. Land was purchased in 1903, with the post being officially named for President Harrison in honor of Indianapolis being...
, Indiana for basic training. He was sent afterwards to Camp Livingston
Camp Livingston
Camp Livingston was a U.S. Army military camp during World War II located on the Rapides Parish and Grant Parish line in north Louisiana, north of Pineville, Louisiana.- History :...
, Louisiana for amphibious training in the 112th Infantry. He was transferred later to Fort Pickett
Fort Pickett
Fort Pickett, Virginia, is a Virginia Army National Guard installation, located near the town of Blackstone, Virginia. It is named for the United States Army officer and Confederate General George Pickett.- Beginnings :...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and the 45th Infantry Division
45th Infantry Division
45th Infantry Division may refer to:* 45th Infantry Division * 45th Infantry Division...
. A member of Anti-Tank Company, 179th Infantry, his unit landed in Oran, Algeria on June 22, 1943 and prepared for the Invasion of Sicily (July 10, 1943). He was awarded a Bronze Star Medal. He was captured by the Germans on February 16, 1944, escaped, and took 40 of them prisoner on February 20 and was awarded a second Silver Star. He was transferred to "G" Company. He took command of 2nd Platoon, G Company, on March 26. He captured a hill and took 25 prisioners on October 28.
He later participated in operation Dragoon
Operation Dragoon
Operation Dragoon was the Allied invasion of southern France on August 15, 1944, during World War II. The invasion was initiated via a parachute drop by the 1st Airborne Task Force, followed by an amphibious assault by elements of the U.S. Seventh Army, followed a day later by a force made up...
(August 15, 1944); the invasion of southern France. He was awarded another Silver Star for actions on November 24 and recommended for a Medal of Honor on November 30. He was wounded by shell fragments on February 15, 1945. He was awarded a third Silver Star for actions on March 3. He was recommended for another Medal of Honor for his actions in taking over 200 prisoners on March 26. He was awarded the Legion of Merit, for actions during March 26--31 as temporary Platoon Leader. He was awarded two Distinguished Service Crosses for actions on April 25 and 27 and two Purple Hearts for actions on April 26 and 27 in Germany. He was sent to a hospital in England and was honorably discharged on June 30, 1946.
After World War II
President Harry Truman decorated First Sergeant Chilson with seven combat decorations in the presence of his wife and baby daughter on December 6, 1946. Truman said, "This is the most remarkable list of citations I have ever seen. For any one of these, this young man is entitled to all the Country has to offer. These ought to be worth a Medal of Honor---that's what I think about it." Chilson re-enlisted into the U.S. Army on November 17, 1947. He waived his 40% disablility and became an Army Recruiter. He retired a Master Sergeant in 1964 and moved to Tacoma, Washington. He managed a gas station and was taxicab driver before he passed away at age 61 on October 10, 1981. Chilson is buried in Tacoma Mountain View Memorial Park in Washington State.Military awards
(13 U.S. Army Decorations, World War II - Three Distinguished Service Crosses, Three Silver Stars, Legion of Merit, Three Bronze Star Medals, and Three Purple Hearts)Three Distinguished Service Crosses, Three Silver Stars, Legion of Merit, Three Bronze Star Medals with Combat "V" (awarded two "V" devices), Three Purple Hearts, Presidential Unit Citation, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-Asiatic-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Silver Star (silver star =5 bronze campaign stars) and Amphibious Assault Arrowhead (four amphibious assaults), World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, French Croix de Guerre with Palm (War Cross medal; Unit Award), French Liberation Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, and Expert Badge with Rifle Bars.
Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree...
with Two Oak Leaf Clusters
Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
with Two Oak Leaf Clusters
Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
Bronze Star Medal
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
with Combat "V" and Two Oak Leaf Clusters
Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
with Two Oak Leaf Clusters
Presidential Unit Citation
Presidential Unit Citation
The Presidential Unit Citation is a senior unit award granted to military units which have performed an extremely meritorious or heroic act, usually in the face of an armed enemy...
Army Commendation Medal
Good Conduct Medal
Good Conduct Medal
The Good Conduct Medal is one of the oldest military awards of the United States military. The Navy Good Conduct Medal was first issued in 1869, followed by a Marine version in 1896. The Coast Guard Good Conduct Medal was issued in 1923 and the Army Good Conduct Medal in 1941. The Air Force was...
American Campaign Medal
American Campaign Medal
The American Campaign Medal was a military decoration of the United States armed forces which was first created on November 6, 1942 by issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt...
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
The European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal is a military decoration of the United States armed forces which was first created on November 6, 1942 by issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt...
with One Silver Star and Arrowhead
World War II Victory Medal
World War II Victory Medal
The World War II Victory Medal is a decoration of the United States military which was created by an act of Congress in July 1945. The decoration commemorates military service during World War II and is awarded to any member of the United States military, including members of the armed forces of...
Army of Occupation Medal
Army of Occupation Medal
The Army of Occupation Medal is a military award of the United States military which was established by the United States War Department on 5 April 1946. The medal was created in the aftermath of the Second World War to recognize those who had performed occupation service in either Germany or Japan...
National Defense Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
The National Defense Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower...
French Croix de Guerre with Palm
French Liberation Medal
French Liberation Medal
The French Liberation Medal or more precisely Liberated France Medal is a decoration of the French Republic which is issued to any veteran of the Second World War who participated in the liberation of France....
Combat Infantryman Badge
Combat Infantryman Badge
The Combat Infantryman Badge is the U.S. Army combat service recognition decoration awarded to soldiers—enlisted men and officers holding colonel rank or below, who personally fought in active ground combat while an assigned member of either an infantry or a Special Forces unit, of brigade size...
Expert Badge with Rifle Bar
