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SP 5 Christopher Profota (Doc)
to remember
Chilson, LLewellyn Morris, MSG USA(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town Dayton
Last Address Puyallup, WA
Date of Passing Oct 10, 1981
Location of Interment Woodbine Cemetery - Puyallup, Washington
Llewellyn Morris Chilson (April 1, 1920 – October 2, 1981) was one of the most decorated American soldiers of World War II. He received twelve individual decorations for combat from the U.S. Army including seven decorations for valor.
After the war, the President of the United States personally decorated Chilson with seven decorations including three Distinguished Services Crosses for extraordinary heroism in Germany.
Other Comments:
Llewellyn Chilson was born on April 1, 1920, in Dayton, Ohio. He was inducted into the U.S. Army on March 28, 1942, and completed basic training in June 1942. Cpl Chilson served with the 112th Infantry Regiment at Camp Livingston, Louisiana and at Camp Gordon Johnston, Florida, from June 1942 to May 1943, and then transferred to the 179th Infantry Regiment of the 45th Infantry Division.
He served with the 179th in North Africa from June to July 1943, during the Invasion of Sicily in July 1943, at the landing in Salerno in September 1943, at the landing in Anzio in January 1944, during the Invasion of Southern France in August 1944, and into Germany in March 1945.
Sgt Chilson returned to the United States in June 1945, and received an honorable discharge on June 30, 1946. He reenlisted in the Army on November 17, 1947, and served as an Army Recruiter until March 1950.
SFC Chilson next served as a Light Weapons Infantry Leader with the 41st and 42nd Armored Infantry Battalions at Fort Hood, Texas, from March 1950 to February 1951, and then as an ROTC instructor in Fort Worth, Texas, from February to September 1951. His next assignment was with Company B, 701st Armored Infantry Battalion at Fort Hood from September 1951 to January 1952, followed by service as a 1st Sergeant with the 1st Armored Division at Fort Hood from January to October 1952.
MSG Chilson served as an Anti-Aircraft Artillery Crewman and Section Leader with B Battery, 5th Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA) Battalion in West Germany from November 1952 to December 1954, and then as a Section Leader with B Battery, 91st AAA Battalion in West Germany from December 1954 to October 1955. His next assignment was as a Section Leader with A Battery, 195th Field Artillery Battalion at Fort Hood from December 1955 to January 1956, and then with A Battery, 451st AAA Battalion at March AFB, California, from March 1956 to April 1957.
He then deployed to West Germany where he again served as a Section Leader with A Battery, 91st AAA Battalion from May 1957 to May 1958, and then with Headquarters Battery, 94th AAA Battalion from May to June 1958. MSG Chilson next served as an instructor with the U.S. Army Artillery and Missile School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, from July 1958 to September 1960, followed by service as a Section Leader with B Battery, 3rd Observation Battalion of the 26th Field Artillery Regiment at Fort Sill from September 1960 to June 1961. He served with B Company, U.S. Army Garrison at Fort Lewis, Washington, from June 1961 to August 1962, and then as an Operations Sergeant and Section Leader with the U.S. Army Artillery and Missile School at Fort Sill from September 1962 until his retirement from the Army on July 1, 1964.
While serving at Fort Sill in 1961, MSG Chilson was one of only four survivors (out of 22 passengers and crew on board) of the crash of an Air Force C-124 Globemaster II that crashed on takeoff from McChord AFB, Washington, on May 24, 1961. Llewellyn Chilson died on October 2, 1981, while on vacation in Florida.
This ribbon will display Multiple Award devices automatically based on the total number of awards listed
Details Behind Award
HEADQUARTERS SEVENTH UNITED STATES ARMY APO 758 US ARMY
GENERAL ORDERS) Number 60)
27 February 1946 Award of the First Oak-leaf Cluster to the Distinguished-Service Cross.-------------------I *** II-- AWARD OF THE FIRST OAK-LEAF TO THE DISTINGUISHED-SERVICE CROSS. By direction of the President, under the provisions of AR 600-45, 22 September 1943, as amended, the First Oak-leaf to the Distinguished-Service Cross is awarded by the Army Commander to the following named individual: LLEWELLYN M. CHILSON, 35 112 223, Technical Sergeant, Infantry, Company "G", 179th Infantry Regiment, for extraordinary heroism in action on 27 April 1945, in Neuberg,Germany. While engaged in taking the town of Neuberg, Germany, Sergeant Chilson and his platoon were halted by intense automatic weapons fire coming from a second story apartment house. Realizing that unless the enemy was knocked out immediately a large number of casualties would be inflicted upon his platoon, Sergeant Chilson, with complete disreguard for his own safety, rushed across the fire-swept street and into the house. Racing up the stairs to the second floor, he tossed a high explosive grenade into the room killing two members of the enemy machine gun crew and capturing eight. He then called his platoon forward and they occupied the building without a casualty. Later, as one of his squads was moving into the next house, they were halted by automatic rifle fire which came from a courtyard. Again Sergeant Chilson came forward, and tossing a white phosphorous grenade into the courtyard, assaulted the enemy position. Firing his carbine with his left hand after being wounded in the right arm by an enemy bullet, he killed two of the enemy and captured a third. His daring and utter disregard for his own personal safety is worthy of the highest praise and is a credit to himself and the armed forces. Entered military service from Akron, Ohio. ***
BY COMMAND OFLIEUTENANT GENERAL KEYES:
JOHN H. WILLEMS Brigadier General, GSC, Chief of Staff OFFICIAL:
