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Ernest Childers, 45th Division Display

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Details:

The display is located in the town’s “Monument Square” across from the World Wars monument and 2 canons.

Commemorative Object

The memorial is a multi-media display honoring the 180thInfantry Regiment, 45thInfantry Division Medal of Honor awardee, Second Lieutenant Ernest Childers.  The display is part of a series of 15 historic displays located in the town describing different events and time periods in the town’s history – “ Il Borgo dei Racconti” (The town Recounts). This display is named: 1943: Allied Troops in Oliveto.  The display particularly  about the Native American, Ernest Childers and his actions to earn the Medal of Honor on a hill named “Heroes Hill” locally.  There is also a bar code reader that allows the visitor to watch a movie about the Childers and the town during Operation Avalanche. Childers fellow high school classmate, Jack Montgomery, a Cherokee Indian, also was awarded the Medal of Honor at Anzio.  (See this website, 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division for more on Montgomery).

Monument Text:

The text on the display is in Italian and English with bar codes that allow the visitor to listen and watch events of September 1943.

 

The English text reads:

 

A platoon led by a Native American-

This was dubbed heroes hill

 

 

(under a picture of Heroes Hill)

 

 

A young native American 

wears the US Army Uniform

A German is saved by Olivetani.

Even in War there are solidarity and compassion

 

Commemorates:

People:

Ernest "Chief" Childers

Jack Cleveland  Montgomery

Units:

180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Division

45th Infantry Division

5th Army

Wars:

WWII

Battles:

Italian Campaign

Operation Avalanche

Other images :