Henry T. Elrod

Henry T. Elrod

Infobox Military Person
name= Henry Talmage Elrod
born= birth date|1905|9|27
died= death date and age|1941|12|23|1905|9|27
placeofbirth= Turner Country, Georgia
placeofdeath= KIA on Wake Island
placeofburial= Arlington National Cemetery


caption= Henry T. Elrod, posthumous Medal of Honor recipient
nickname= "Hammering Hank"
allegiance= United States of America
branch= United States Marine Corps
serviceyears= 1931-1941
rank= Major
commands=
unit= VMA-211
battles= World War II *Battle of Wake Island
awards= Medal of Honor Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal with Wake Island Device
laterwork=

Henry Talmage "Baron" Elrod (September 27, 1905–December 23, 1941) was a Marine Corps aviator. He was the first aviator to be awarded the Medal of Honor during World War II, for his heroism in the defense of Wake Island.

Marine Corps service

Elrod was born on September 27, 1905, in Turner County, Georgia. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in December 1927, and was appointed a Marine second lieutenant in February 1931. He attended the University of Georgia and Yale University prior to his entry into the Marine Corps.

Following over a year at the Marine Corps Basic School in Philadelphia as a student aviator, Lieutenant Elrod was ordered to the Naval Air Station at Pensacola. There he served as a company officer and as student aviator. In February 1935, he earned his wings and was transferred to Marine Corps Base Quantico, where he served as a Marine Aviator until January 1938. In addition to his other duties, he was the squadron’s school, personnel, and welfare officer.

In July 1938, Elrod was ordered to a squadron in San Diego and served as their material, parachute, and personnel officer until January 1941, when he was detached to the Hawaiian area.
[
Kisaragi] .On December 4, 1941, Captain Elrod flew to Wake Island with twelve aircraft, twelve pilots, and the ground crew of Major Paul Putnam's VMF-211 fighter squadron. Hostilities in the air over Wake Island commenced on December 8, 1941. On December 12, he single-handedly attacked a flight of 22 enemy planes and shot down two. He executed several low-altitude bombing and strafing runs on enemy ships; during one of these attacks, he became the first man to sink a warship, the Japanese destroyer "Kisaragi", with small caliber bombs delivered from a fighter aircraft.

When all the U.S. aircraft had been destroyed by hostile fire, he organized remaining troops into a beach defense unit which repulsed repeated Japanese attacks. On December 23, 1941, Captain Elrod was mortally wounded while protecting his men who were carrying ammunition to a gun emplacement.

He was posthumously promoted to Major on November 8, 1946, and his widow was presented with the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the defense of Wake Island. His widow is also a former commissioned officer in the United States Marine Corps.

Major Elrod was initially buried on Wake Island, but was reinterred in Arlington National Cemetery in October 1947."Major Henry Talmage Elrod", "Who's Who in Marine Corps History".] His grave can be found in Section 12, Grave 3246."Henry Talmage Elrod", Arlington National Cemetery website.]

Posthumous honors

The main road leading in to the Marine Corps Officer Candidate School is named after Elrod.cite web|accessdate=2007-10-28
url=http://www.ocs.usmc.mil/FAQ.html
title=FAQs — Mailing address for candidates
publisher=Officer Candidates School, United States Marine Corps
]

The U.S. Navy "Oliver Hazard Perry"-class frigate, USS "Elrod", is named in his honor.*cite web
accessdate=2007-10-28
url=http://www.elrod.navy.mil/namesake.htm
title= "Ship's Namesake", USS "Elrod" official website
publisher=United States Navy
]

Medal of Honor citation

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to
CAPTAIN HENRY T. ELROD UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

:For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while attached to Marine Fighting Squadron TWO HUNDRED ELEVEN, during action against enemy Japanese land, surface and aerial units at Wake Island, from 8 to 23 December 1941. Engaging vastly superior forces of enemy bombers and warships on 9 and 12 December, Captain Elrod shot down two of a flight of twenty-two hostile planes and, executing repeated bombing and strafing runs at extremely low altitude and close range, succeeded in inflicting deadly damage upon a large Japanese vessel, thereby sinking the first major warship to be destroyed by small caliber bombs delivered form a fighter-type aircraft. When his plane was disabled by hostile fire and no other ships were operative, Captain Elrod assumed command of one flank of the line set up in defiance of the enemy landing and conducting a brilliant defense, enabled his men to hold their positions and repulse determined Japanese attacks, repeatedly proceeding through intense hostile fusillades to provide covering fire for unarmed ammunition carriers. Capturing an automatic weapon during one enemy rush in force, he gave his own firearm to one of his men and fought on vigorously against the Japanese. Responsible in a large measure of the strength of his sector's gallant resistance, on 23 December, Captain Elrod led his men with bold aggressiveness until he fell, mortally wounded. His superb skill as a pilot, daring leadership and unswerving devotion to duty distinguished him among the defenders of Wake Island, and his valiant conduct reflects the highest credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country. [*cite web
accessdate=2007-09-03
url=http://www.usmc.mil/moh.nsf/000003c919889c0385255f980058f5b6/000003c919889c0385255
archiveurl=http://web.petabox.bibalex.org/web/20060522225201/http://usmc.mil/moh.nsf/000003c919889c0385255f980058f5b6/000003c919889c0385255fa300722683?OpenDocument
archivedate=2006-05-22
title=CAPT HENRY T. ELROD, Medal of Honor, 1941, VMF-211, Wake Island
work= [http://web.petabox.bibalex.org/web/20060208042000/www.usmc.mil/moh.nsf/ Marines Awarded the Medal of Honor]
publisher=United States Marine Corps
]

/S/HARRY S. TRUMAN

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients
*List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II

Notes

References

:Marine Corps
*cite web
accessdate=2007-09-03
url=http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Elrod_HT.htm
title= Major Henry Talmage Elrod, USMC
work=Who's Who in Marine Corps History
publisher=History Division, United States Marine Corps

*cite web
accessdate=2007-09-03
url=http://www.usmc.mil/moh.nsf/000003c919889c0385255f980058f5b6/000003c919889c0385255
archiveurl=http://web.petabox.bibalex.org/web/20060522225201/http://usmc.mil/moh.nsf/000003c919889c0385255f980058f5b6/000003c919889c0385255fa300722683?OpenDocument
archivedate=2006-05-22
title=CAPT HENRY T. ELROD, Medal of Honor, 1941, VMF-211, Wake Island
work= [http://web.petabox.bibalex.org/web/20060208042000/www.usmc.mil/moh.nsf/ Marines Awarded the Medal of Honor]
publisher=United States Marine Corps

*cite web|accessdate=2007-10-28
url=http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/htelrod.htm
title=Henry Talmage Elrod, Major, United States Marine Corps
publisher=Arlington National Cemetery website

*cite web
accessdate=2007-10-28
url=http://www.elrod.navy.mil/
title= USS "Elrod" official website
work=
publisher=United States Navy

External links

*findagrave|6215318 Retrieved on 2007-10-28

*cite web
accessdate=
url=http://www.history.navy.mil/shiphist/e/ffg55.htm
title= USS Elrod Ship History
work=
publisher=United States Navy

Persondata
NAME= Elrod, Henry
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipient
DATE OF BIRTH= September 27, 1905
PLACE OF BIRTH= Turner Country, Georgia
DATE OF DEATH= December 23, 1941
PLACE OF DEATH= KIA on Wake Island


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