As I write this, it has been 82 years since hundreds of thousands of young men landed at Normandy, France to attack the Germans in a huge allied forces onslaught. On that day, June 6, 1944, two brothers from Kansas landed at Omaha Beach. They promised to meet on the beach after the fighting was done, but that promise would remain unfulfilled. One brother was later awarded the highest military honor our country can bestow on a soldier, and the other brother made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country.
Roland and Walter Ehlers enlisted in the United States Army in 1940 and first saw combat with the 3rd Infantry Division in North Africa in 1942, before being transferred to Company K, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, also known as “The Big Red One.” In 1943, Roland was wounded in Sicily, requiring medical treatment before reuniting with Walter in England to prepare for the allies’ joint assault on D-Day. That was where Walter learned he would be transferred to Company L prior to the invasion. Both brothers promised to meet on the beach after the fighting was done. Sadly, that promise would not be unfulfilled.
As Roland Ehlers was exiting his landing craft at Omaha Beach, a mortar shell struck the ramp, killing him and his entire squad. Unaware of his brother’s fate, Walter tried to find Roland that evening, only to discover he was reported as Missing in Action. Despite his concern for his brother, he led his men off the beach toward their next objective, the small town of Trévières, France. He did not learn his brother was killed until mid-July, when Roland’s commanding officer personally delivered the grave news.
On June 9, 1944, near Goville, France, Walter led an attack on two mortar pits and single-handedly defeated multiple enemy machine gun nests. By the next day, German forces surrounded his company, forcing their retreat. Walter and his rifleman laid down covering fire aiming at numerous German positions to allow their squad to withdraw safely. Both men were wounded by a sniper, but Walter eliminated the threat. The bullet entered his back, glanced off his rib, and exited out his back, passing through a bar of soap, a photograph of his mother, and the shovel on his pack. Despite being shot, he carried his rifleman to safety and returned for the Browning Automatic Rifle that the squad desperately needed under heavy fire. When the medics finally assessed Walter, they said he should be dead until he showed them the bullet’s trajectory. Despite his grave wounds, he refused to be evacuated due to his strong determination to lead his men by example.
Walter was wounded twice more, from aerial bombardment near Saint-Lô and a mortar shell in the Hürtgen Forest, which required hospitalization. On the train back to his unit, while reading the military newspaper Stars and Stripes, he learned he was being awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in June 1944. He was presented with the medal in December 1944, and after a brief respite at home, requested to rejoin his unit.
These two brothers, Sergeant Roland Ehlers and Lieutenant Walter Ehlers left a legacy of courage, honor, and devotion to their fellow men and country. Like so many thousands of others, they willingly dedicated themselves to service of our country and the freedoms we so often take for granted.
You may ask yourself why I’m sharing this story. It’s simple really … I for one need to be reminded of what our forefathers (many in my own family) gave up for their families, their communities, their country, so that me and my family could enjoy living in this country. It is not to be taken for granted.
And their sacrifice reminds me of someone who gave Himself up for me willingly to die a horrible death by crucifixion. Thank you, Jesus, for saving me!
Scripture says (Romans 5:8): “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Tagged: courage, world war II
