He was inducted into the Army on March 28, 1942, about one month after his older brother, Alvin, was killed in action while fighting in the Philippines. His basic training was completed at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana and then he trained further at Camp Livingston, Louisiana and then Camp Johnson, Florida where he underwent amphibious training with the 112th IR. After this he transferred yet again to Fort Pickett, Virginia where he was assigned duty with an anti-tank company of the 179th Infantry Regiment of the 45th Infantry Division, Thunderbirds.
With the Thunderbirds, he fought in North Africa, Italy, North and South France, and finally Germany. In this relatively short two years, he distinguished himself as someone who could be counted on by those around him, and someone who was in no way afraid to take it to the enemy.
When he was discharged, after the war, he had been awarded twelve individual decorations for combat, seven of which were decoration for valor. It is believed that his seven combat valor decorations are the most to have been awarded an infantryman during World War Two. In addition to all of these, he was also nominated on two separate occasions for the Medal of Honor.
While in Italy, he was awarded the first of his three Purple Hearts after a shrapnel wound on February 15, 1944. The following day, he and three other soldiers were captured by Germans only after running out of ammunition during a firefight. All four managed to escape the following day and took four German prisoners with them. This led to the subsequent capture of forty more Germans by Chilson. For these actions he was awarded the first of his three Silver Stars. This was awarded after he, alone, rushed against a German roadblock killing three and taking nine prisoners.
On November 30, 1944 near Gumbrechstoffen, France he defended what was thought to be an indefensible position. For this action, he was nominated for the Medal of Honor by his platoon sergeant. About three months later, a series of actions by Chilson, including taking 200 German prisoners led to his being nominated yet again for the Medal of Honor. This occurred during a five day period in late March, 1945 where he was awarded the Legion of Merit, his third Silver Star, a Bronze Star with V, and a Distinguished Service Cross.
Less than a month later, in Germany now, from April 25 to April 27, he was awarded his second and third Distinguished Service Crosses and his second and third Purple Hearts. Chilson was hospitalized and eventually sent back to the states and given an honorable discharge on June 30, 1946. That December, President Truman decorated him with seven of the medals he had been awarded. In doing so, Truman remarked, "This is the most remarkable list of citations I have ever seen. For any one of these, this young man is entitled to all the Country has to offer. These ought to be worth a Medal of Honor---that's what I think about it." Chilson's Medal of Honor had been approved by General Joseph T. McNarney, commanding general of U.S. forces in the European theater, but the War Depatrment, while finding his actions very commendable, did not find them worthy of the Medal of Honor.
Chilson re-enlisted in November, 1947, waiving his disability, and served as an Army Recruiter. He was sent to Ft. Hood in 1947 to help train National Guardsmen. While there, he met Audie Murphy, another warrior, who is the only soldier more decorated than Chilson was during World War Two.
Chilson was one of only four who survived the crash of a USAF C-124A Globemaster II. That crash, near McChord Air Force Base, killed 24.
Chilson retired from the U.S. Army as a Master Sergeant in 1964. He mover to Tacoma, Washington and managed a service station and drove a taxi until his death in 1981, at age 61.
Llewellyn Chilson's military awards include twelve individual decorations for combat he received from the U.S. Army for World War II: three Distinguished Service Crosses, three Silver Stars, one Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars (one for heroism), and three Purple Hearts.
To say Llewellyn Chilson was a warrior is probably selling him short. His actions in combat are extraordinary. He undoubtedly save many lives by leadership in action. He probably inspired many men to push further, to fight harder and to never give up under whatever circumstances they found themselves. He absolutely embodies what the warrior spirit is about.
Thank you Llewellyn Chilson for a stellar Army career.
A short newsreel of Truman decorating Chilson : Truman Decorates Chilson
A very thorough timeline of Chilson's Army service: 45th Division - Chilson
179th IR
45th Infantry Division
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