784:
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
611:
209:
627:
229:
665:
647:
674:
497:
419:
590:
604:
595:
659:
641:
621:
581:
561:
25:
133:
408:
833:
801:
441:. 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
778:
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
783:
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 from a fighter-type aircraft. When his plane was disabled by hostile fire and no other ships
450:
When all the U.S. aircraft had been destroyed by
Japanese 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.
481:(BuNo. 4019), including the aircraft's cowling nose ring, tail-hook, and propeller, were believed to have been used in a memorial constructed on Wake Island. When the memorial was dismantled around 1965 the aircraft parts were sent to the
489:
restored its FM-1 Wildcat the only cowling nose ring that could be located was the one taken from the Wake Island memorial. This part, still bearing battle damage, was incorporated into the restored FM-1 now on display in
837:
1237:
924:
1247:
1257:
779:
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
756:
Note – all the awards above, except for the
American Defense Service Medal and a previous award of the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, were awarded posthumously.
1277:
819:
397:, where he served as a Marine Aviator until January 1938. In addition to his other duties, he was his squadron's school, personnel, and welfare officer.
997:
447:, with small-caliber bombs delivered from a fighter aircraft, dropping the bombs onto the destroyer's stern, causing the depth charges to explode.
1242:
454:
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
1052:
1252:
513:
1267:
748:
711:
906:
393:, Florida. There he served as a company officer and as student aviator. In February 1935, he earned his wings and was transferred to
370:. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in December 1927, and was appointed a Marine second lieutenant in February 1931. He attended the
1117:
404:
and served as their material, parachute, and personnel officer until
January 1941, when he was detached to the Hawaiian area.
1262:
89:
785:
61:
442:
68:
1140:
1082:
814:
539:
108:
1019:
716:
517:
316:
422:
Wreckage of
Wildcat 211-F-11, flown by Capt Elrod on December 11, in the attack that sank the Japanese destroyer
42:
75:
1272:
738:
728:
46:
962:
565:
554:
486:
888:
857:
57:
987:
685:
466:
390:
191:
1162:
1148:
1086:
841:
610:
394:
340:
234:
1060:
252:
35:
764:
The
President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to
658:
640:
620:
367:
163:
455:
371:
288:
82:
1232:
1227:
704:
626:
8:
482:
195:
664:
646:
1210:
1170:
1027:
721:
459:
320:
1125:
531:(the county seat of Turner County) dedicated a park to Elrod in 2010. A city park in
673:
1206:
806:
532:
528:
521:
491:
292:
375:
1196:
692:
434:
418:
347:
308:
1221:
343:
214:
697:
496:
458:. His widow, the former Elizabeth Hogun Jackson, was the niece of Admiral
386:
382:
351:
312:
282:
1031:
743:
430:
355:
180:
589:
462:
and served as a commissioned officer in the United States Marine Corps.
965:. Officer Candidates School, United States Marine Corps. Archived from
603:
465:
Major Elrod was initially buried on Wake Island, but was reinterred in
594:
580:
733:
560:
546:
401:
24:
966:
948:*Tillman, Barrett Flight Journal, Volume 13, Number 2, April, 2008
780:
1141:"Capt. Henry T. Elrod, Medal of Honor, 1941, VMF-211, Wake Island"
1109:
Tillman, Barrett Flight
Journal, Volume 13, Number 2, April, 2008
1083:"Capt. Henry T. Elrod, Medal of Honor, 1941, VMF-211, Wake Island"
433:
with twelve aircraft, twelve pilots, and the ground crew of Major
438:
339:(September 27, 1905 – December 23, 1941) was a US
263:
132:
16:
US Marine Corps aviator and Medal of Honor recipient (1905–1941)
1124:. History Division, United States Marine Corps. Archived from
407:
1201:, ArlingtonCemetery.net, 26 August 2023, (Unofficial website)
1174:
553:, is named in his honor. In 1995 Elrod was inducted into the
1238:
United States Marine Corps personnel killed in World War II
992:
389:
as a student aviator, Lieutenant Elrod was ordered to the
907:"Burial Detail: Elrod, Henry T. (Section 12, Grave 3246)"
889:"Vessel With 3,028 War Dead Docks in San Francisco Today"
858:"Wake Hero's Medal Is Given To Capt. Elrod, HIs Widow"
1248:
United States Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipients
796:
774:
for service as set forth in the following CITATION:
137:
Henry T. Elrod, posthumous Medal of Honor recipient
49:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
913:. Arlington National Cemetery. (Official website).
820:List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II
1258:United States Marine Corps pilots of World War II
895:. Washington, D.C. October 10, 1947. p. A-4.
864:. Washington, D.C. November 9, 1946. p. A-6.
535:(near where he grew up) is also named for Elrod.
400:In July 1938, Elrod was ordered to a squadron in
1219:
1278:World War II recipients of the Medal of Honor
788:. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
524:in Aiea, Hawaii are also named after Elrod.
472:
429:On December 4, 1941, Captain Elrod flew to
955:
759:
696:
691:
381:Following over a year at the Marine Corps
378:prior to his entry into the Marine Corps.
346:. He was the first aviator to receive the
131:
366:Elrod was born on September 27, 1905, in
109:Learn how and when to remove this message
925:"World War II Medal of Honor Recipients"
559:
495:
417:
406:
1012:
963:"FAQs – Mailing address for candidates"
868:
516:is named after Elrod. Other streets at
361:
1243:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery
1220:
1000:from the original on October 10, 2018
514:Marine Corps Officer Candidate School
988:"Ashburn park named for CMOH winner"
507:
354:, for his heroism in the defense of
47:adding citations to reliable sources
18:
1253:United States Marine Corps officers
13:
1268:People from Turner County, Georgia
1145:Marines Awarded the Medal of Honor
917:
840:from websites or documents of the
14:
1289:
1189:
1122:Who's Who in Marine Corps History
1118:"Major Henry Talmage Elrod, USMC"
876:Who's Who in Marine Corps History
815:List of Medal of Honor recipients
836: This article incorporates
831:
799:
717:Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal
672:
663:
657:
645:
639:
625:
619:
609:
602:
593:
588:
579:
518:Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
512:The main road leading in to the
317:Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal
227:
207:
23:
1075:
1045:
712:Navy Presidential Unit Citation
34:needs additional citations for
980:
942:
899:
881:
850:
739:Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
729:American Defense Service Medal
520:in San Diego, California, and
1:
1103:
1057:Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame
874:"Major Henry Talmage Elrod",
566:Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame
564:Plaque of Major Elrod at the
555:Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame
487:National Air and Space Museum
1263:University of Georgia people
477:Parts of Maj. Elrod's F4F-3
7:
929:Arlington National Cemetery
792:
786:United States Naval Service
467:Arlington National Cemetery
391:Naval Air Station Pensacola
192:Arlington National Cemetery
10:
1294:
1149:United States Marine Corps
1087:United States Marine Corps
842:United States Marine Corps
771:UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
749:World War II Victory Medal
395:Marine Corps Base Quantico
235:United States Marine Corps
747:
737:
727:
715:
710:
703:
684:
587:
578:
571:
304:
277:
269:
259:
248:
240:
220:
202:
186:
170:
150:
142:
130:
123:
1207:"USS Elrod Ship History"
1020:""Ship's Namesake", USS
825:
473:Surviving aircraft parts
760:Medal of Honor citation
411:The Japanese destroyer
838:public domain material
768:CAPTAIN HENRY T. ELROD
568:
504:
456:defense of Wake Island
426:
415:
368:Turner County, Georgia
164:Turner County, Georgia
1273:Battle of Wake Island
563:
499:
437:'s fighter squadron,
421:
410:
372:University of Georgia
289:Battle of Wake Island
241:Years of service
705:Combat Action Ribbon
362:Marine Corps service
43:improve this article
1198:Henry Talmage Elrod
722:"Wake Island" clasp
686:Naval Aviator Badge
541:Oliver Hazard Perry
483:Marine Corps Museum
196:Arlington, Virginia
125:Henry Talmage Elrod
1211:United States Navy
1171:United States Navy
1028:United States Navy
569:
505:
460:Richard H. Jackson
427:
416:
321:Wake Island Device
161:September 27, 1905
1167:official website"
1024:official website"
754:
753:
680:
679:
508:Posthumous honors
469:in October 1947.
326:
325:
273:Executive Officer
174:December 23, 1941
119:
118:
111:
93:
1285:
1214:
1202:
1185:
1183:
1182:
1173:. Archived from
1158:
1156:
1155:
1136:
1134:
1133:
1111:The Rarest Birds
1097:
1096:
1094:
1093:
1079:
1073:
1072:
1070:
1068:
1059:. Archived from
1053:"Henry T. Elrod"
1049:
1043:
1042:
1040:
1039:
1030:. Archived from
1016:
1010:
1009:
1007:
1005:
984:
978:
977:
975:
974:
959:
953:
950:The Rarest Birds
946:
940:
939:
937:
935:
921:
915:
914:
903:
897:
896:
885:
879:
872:
866:
865:
854:
835:
834:
809:
807:Biography portal
804:
803:
802:
682:
681:
676:
667:
661:
649:
643:
629:
623:
613:
606:
597:
592:
583:
576:
575:
529:Ashburn, Georgia
522:Camp H. M. Smith
492:Washington, D.C.
297:
233:
231:
230:
222:
213:
211:
210:
177:
160:
158:
146:"Hammering Hank"
135:
121:
120:
114:
107:
103:
100:
94:
92:
58:"Henry T. Elrod"
51:
27:
19:
1293:
1292:
1288:
1287:
1286:
1284:
1283:
1282:
1218:
1217:
1205:
1195:
1192:
1180:
1178:
1161:
1153:
1151:
1139:
1131:
1129:
1116:
1106:
1101:
1100:
1091:
1089:
1081:
1080:
1076:
1066:
1064:
1063:on June 2, 2017
1051:
1050:
1046:
1037:
1035:
1018:
1017:
1013:
1003:
1001:
996:. May 8, 2014.
986:
985:
981:
972:
970:
961:
960:
956:
947:
943:
933:
931:
923:
922:
918:
905:
904:
900:
887:
886:
882:
873:
869:
856:
855:
851:
832:
828:
805:
800:
798:
795:
772:
770:
762:
741:
731:
719:
707:
669:
668:
662:
651:
650:
644:
631:
630:
624:
574:
510:
475:
376:Yale University
364:
315:
311:
293:
228:
226:
208:
206:
198:
187:Place of burial
179:
175:
162:
156:
154:
138:
126:
115:
104:
98:
95:
52:
50:
40:
28:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1291:
1281:
1280:
1275:
1270:
1265:
1260:
1255:
1250:
1245:
1240:
1235:
1230:
1216:
1215:
1203:
1191:
1190:External links
1188:
1187:
1186:
1159:
1137:
1114:
1105:
1102:
1099:
1098:
1074:
1044:
1011:
979:
954:
941:
916:
898:
880:
867:
848:
847:
846:
845:
827:
824:
823:
822:
817:
811:
810:
794:
791:
766:
761:
758:
752:
751:
746:
736:
725:
724:
714:
709:
701:
700:
695:
693:Medal of Honor
689:
688:
678:
677:
670:
656:
655:
654:
652:
638:
637:
636:
633:
632:
618:
617:
616:
614:
607:
599:
598:
585:
584:
573:
570:
551: (FFG-55)
543:-class frigate
538:The U.S. Navy
509:
506:
474:
471:
435:Paul A. Putnam
363:
360:
348:Medal of Honor
333:Hammerin' Hank
324:
323:
309:Medal of Honor
306:
302:
301:
300:
299:
279:
275:
274:
271:
267:
266:
261:
257:
256:
250:
246:
245:
242:
238:
237:
224:
218:
217:
204:
200:
199:
190:
188:
184:
183:
178:(aged 36)
172:
168:
167:
152:
148:
147:
144:
140:
139:
136:
128:
127:
124:
117:
116:
31:
29:
22:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1290:
1279:
1276:
1274:
1271:
1269:
1266:
1264:
1261:
1259:
1256:
1254:
1251:
1249:
1246:
1244:
1241:
1239:
1236:
1234:
1231:
1229:
1226:
1225:
1223:
1212:
1208:
1204:
1200:
1199:
1194:
1193:
1177:on 2007-10-26
1176:
1172:
1168:
1166:
1160:
1150:
1146:
1142:
1138:
1128:on 2011-05-16
1127:
1123:
1119:
1115:
1112:
1108:
1107:
1088:
1084:
1078:
1062:
1058:
1054:
1048:
1034:on 2007-10-09
1033:
1029:
1025:
1023:
1015:
999:
995:
994:
989:
983:
969:on 2007-02-05
968:
964:
958:
951:
945:
930:
926:
920:
912:
908:
902:
894:
890:
884:
877:
871:
863:
859:
853:
849:
843:
839:
830:
829:
821:
818:
816:
813:
812:
808:
797:
790:
789:
787:
782:
775:
769:
765:
757:
750:
745:
740:
735:
730:
726:
723:
718:
713:
708:(posthumous)
706:
702:
699:
694:
690:
687:
683:
675:
671:
666:
660:
653:
648:
642:
635:
634:
628:
622:
615:
612:
608:
605:
601:
600:
596:
591:
586:
582:
577:
567:
562:
558:
556:
552:
550:
544:
542:
536:
534:
530:
525:
523:
519:
515:
503:
498:
494:
493:
488:
484:
480:
470:
468:
463:
461:
457:
452:
448:
446:
445:
440:
436:
432:
425:
420:
414:
409:
405:
403:
398:
396:
392:
388:
384:
379:
377:
373:
369:
359:
357:
353:
349:
345:
342:
338:
334:
330:
329:Henry Talmage
322:
318:
314:
310:
307:
303:
298:
296:
290:
287:
286:
285:
284:
280:
276:
272:
268:
265:
262:
258:
254:
251:
247:
243:
239:
236:
225:
219:
216:
215:United States
205:
201:
197:
193:
189:
185:
182:
173:
169:
165:
153:
149:
145:
141:
134:
129:
122:
113:
110:
102:
99:February 2013
91:
88:
84:
81:
77:
74:
70:
67:
63:
60: –
59:
55:
54:Find sources:
48:
44:
38:
37:
32:This article
30:
26:
21:
20:
1197:
1179:. Retrieved
1175:the original
1164:
1152:. Retrieved
1144:
1130:. Retrieved
1126:the original
1121:
1113:, p. 72
1110:
1090:. Retrieved
1077:
1065:. Retrieved
1061:the original
1056:
1047:
1036:. Retrieved
1032:the original
1021:
1014:
1002:. Retrieved
991:
982:
971:. Retrieved
967:the original
957:
949:
944:
932:. Retrieved
928:
919:
911:ANC Explorer
910:
901:
893:Evening Star
892:
883:
875:
870:
862:Evening Star
861:
852:
777:
776:
773:
767:
763:
755:
734:"Base" clasp
698:Purple Heart
548:
540:
537:
527:The City of
526:
511:
501:
478:
476:
464:
453:
449:
443:
428:
423:
412:
399:
387:Philadelphia
383:Basic School
380:
365:
352:World War II
341:Marine Corps
336:
332:
328:
327:
313:Purple Heart
294:
283:World War II
281:
278:Battles/wars
255:(posthumous)
176:(1941-12-23)
105:
96:
86:
79:
72:
65:
53:
41:Please help
36:verification
33:
1233:1941 deaths
1228:1905 births
1004:October 10,
744:battle star
485:. When the
479:Mike Fox 11
431:Wake Island
356:Wake Island
181:Wake Island
143:Nickname(s)
1222:Categories
1181:2007-10-28
1154:2007-09-03
1132:2007-09-03
1104:References
1092:2007-09-03
1067:October 9,
1038:2007-10-28
973:2007-10-28
203:Allegiance
157:1905-09-27
69:newspapers
742:with one
547:USS
402:San Diego
244:1927–1941
998:Archived
934:20 March
793:See also
781:strafing
444:Kisaragi
424:Kisaragi
413:Kisaragi
270:Commands
221:Service/
952:, p. 72
533:Rebecca
439:VMF-211
350:during
344:aviator
295:†
264:VMF-211
83:scholar
572:Awards
305:Awards
291:
232:
223:branch
212:
85:
78:
71:
64:
56:
1165:Elrod
1163:"USS
1022:Elrod
826:Notes
732:with
720:with
549:Elrod
502:Elrod
337:Elrod
319:with
253:Major
90:JSTOR
76:books
1069:2018
1006:2018
993:WALB
936:2019
500:USS
374:and
260:Unit
249:Rank
171:Died
166:, US
151:Born
62:news
385:in
45:by
1224::
1209:.
1169:.
1147:.
1143:.
1120:.
1085:.
1055:.
1026:.
990:.
927:.
909:.
891:.
860:.
557:.
545:,
358:.
335:"
194:,
1213:.
1184:.
1157:.
1135:.
1095:.
1071:.
1041:.
1008:.
976:.
938:.
878:.
844:.
331:"
159:)
155:(
112:)
106:(
101:)
97:(
87:·
80:·
73:·
66:·
39:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
