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2014-02-25 -Obits-

Medal Of Honor Staff Sergeant Walter D. Ehlers Passes On At 92

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Posted by Omavising Ebbemp9815 2014-02-25 00:00|| || Front Page|| [4 views ] Top

#1 The NYT writeup on his passing ended with following interesting bit:
His brother Roland and he were both in Co. K, 18th Regt, 1st Infantry Division & slated to hit Omaha Beach together. Their commander anticipated heavy casualties & split the brothers up. Walter was re-assigned to Co. L and went on to win multiple awards for heroism from D-Day onward. His brother Roland was killed by shellfire as he stepped onto Omaha Beach. From the article: "For all the plaudits Mr. Ehlers received, the loss of his brother haunted him.

I used to have nightmares every night, he told The Orange County Register after the 60th anniversary of D-Day. Nightmares about my brother coming home. He always showed up immaculately dressed, and he had that beautiful smile, and wed talk. Id go get something and come back, and hed be gone. Then, Id wake up.

What broke the cycle, he said, was when he spoke at Omaha Beach, telling of how he had waved to Roland as they prepared to board their ships to cross the English Channel. My knees were trembling when I stood before the audience that day, with 14,000 vets and 17 heads of state, he said. But after that, the nightmares went away. I came to grips with his death. They say when you talk about something you finally let it out.

His thoughts of Roland, and the distance between them at the shores of Omaha Beach, never left him, however.

I still cant talk about him without bringing tears to my eyes, he told The Register. I felt like if wed been together, that wouldnt have happened. But God sent us in different ways. "

Posted by Anguper Hupomosing9418 2014-02-25 00:31|| 2014-02-25 00:31|| Front Page Top

#2 I travel today to attend the funeral of an 88 year old cousin and veteran of the Battle of the Bulge. My aunt got a telegram informing her that "he had been wounded in action the European Theater of Operation." His folks heard nothing more for another six weeks. His wounds were not life threatening and he finished out the war, returning home to get married and raise 4 children. He was married for 63 years. They are all leaving us now, those brave soldiers.

Posted by Besoeker 2014-02-25 01:22|| 2014-02-25 01:22|| Front Page Top

#3 Mr. B - your cousin's story is hauntingly similar to my uncle's. He landed at Utah and was wounded at Bastogne. Non-life threatening but medevac was not option anyway as he was inside the cordon. Stayed in the ETO until the end and lived a long happy life.

Posted by Bangkok Billy 2014-02-25 05:44|| 2014-02-25 05:44|| Front Page Top

#4 R.I.P. S/Sgt. Ehlers, you well deserve the peace.

Posted by JohnQC 2014-02-25 18:57|| 2014-02-25 18:57|| Front Page Top

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