Walter D . Ehlers Walter David Ehlers ( born May 7 , 1921 ) is a former United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military ' s highest decoration — the Medal of Honor — for his actions in World War II . Biography . Born on May 7 , 1921 , in Junction City , Kansas , Ehlers joined the Army from the city of Manhattan in October 1940 . He and his older brother Roland served in the same unit and participated in the fighting in North Africa and Sicily . By D - Day on June 6 , 1944 , Ehlers was a staff sergeant and squad leader in the 18th Infantry Regiment , 1st Infantry Division . His squad , part of the invasion ' s second wave , waited off shore in a Landing Craft , Infantry , while the first group of soldiers landed . When the first wave became pinned down on the beach , his unit was transferred to a Higgins boat and sent forward early to assist . They fought their way off the beach and by June 9 were near the town of Goville , inland . On that day , he led his unit ' s attack against German forces and single - handedly defeated several enemy machinegun nests . The next day , his platoon came under heavy fire and he covered their withdrawal , carried a wounded rifleman to safety , and continued to lead despite his own wounds . For his actions , he was awarded the Medal of Honor six months later , on December 19 , 1944 . On July 14 , more than a month after D - Day , Ehlers learned that his brother Roland had died at Omaha Beach when his landing craft was struck by a mortar shell . He appeared in the 1955 film " The Long Gray Line " , starring Tyrone Power . Medal of Honor citation . Staff Sergeant Ehlers ' official Medal of Honor citation reads : For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 9 – 10 June 1944 , near Goville , France . S / Sgt . Ehlers , always acting as the spearhead of the attack , repeatedly led his men against heavily defended enemy strong points exposing himself to deadly hostile fire whenever the situation required heroic and courageous leadership . Without waiting for an order , S / Sgt . Ehlers , far ahead of his men , led his squad against a strongly defended enemy strong point , personally killing 4 of an enemy patrol who attacked him en route . Then crawling forward under withering machinegun fire , he pounced upon the guncrew and put it out of action . Turning his attention to 2 mortars protected by the crossfire of 2 machineguns , S / Sgt . Ehlers led his men through this hail of bullets to kill or put to flight the enemy of the mortar section , killing 3 men himself . After mopping up the mortar positions , he again advanced on a machinegun , his progress effectively covered by his squad . When he was almost on top of the gun he leaped to his feet and , although greatly outnumbered , he knocked out the position single - handed . The next day , having advanced deep into enemy territory , the platoon of which S / Sgt . Ehlers was a member , finding itself in an untenable position as the enemy brought increased mortar , machinegun , and small arms fire to bear on it , was ordered to withdraw . S / Sgt . Ehlers , after his squad had covered the withdrawal of the remainder of the platoon , stood up and by continuous fire at the semicircle of enemy placements , diverted the bulk of the heavy hostile fire on himself , thus permitting the members of his own squad to withdraw . At this point , though wounded himself , he carried his wounded automatic rifleman to safety and then returned fearlessly over the shell - swept field to retrieve the automatic rifle which he was unable to carry previously . After having his wound treated , he refused to be evacuated , and returned to lead his squad . The intrepid leadership , indomitable courage , and fearless aggressiveness displayed by S / Sgt . Ehlers in the face of overwhelming enemy forces serve as an inspiration to others .