Henry Talmage Elrod

February 24th, 2013 |

Author: admin

Henry Talmage Elrod

Born at Rebecca, Georgia, on September 27, 1905, he earned the Medal of Honor during World War II while serving as Captain, USMC, at Wake Island, on December 8-23, 1941 during the initial Japanese invasion of that Island. He was killed in that action and was subsequently buried in Section 12 of Arlington National Cemetery. Major Henry T. 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 and at the Marine Barracks there as a student aviator, Lieutenant Elrod was ordered to the Naval Station at Pensacola. Here he served as a company officer at the Naval Station, and as student aviator. In February, 1935, he won his wings and, as a Marine Aviator, was transferred to Quantico, where he served with a Marine aircraft unit until January, 1938. In addition to his other duties, he was squadron school, personnel, and welfare officer. In July, 1938, Elrod went to San Diego for duty at the Naval Air Station and served as squadron material, parachute, and personnel officer, until January, 1941, when he was detached to the Hawaiian area. He arrived at Wake a short time before the hostilities commenced and was one of the twelve pilots who flew the Marine planes onto the island. He was killed in action defending Wake Island against the invading Japanese on December 23, 1941. During the defense of Wake, Major Elrod repeatedly displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life, above and beyond the call of duty. On the 12th of December he single-handedly attacked a flight of 22 enemy planes and shot down two. On several flights he executed low altitude bombing and strafing runs on enemy ships, and became the first man to sink a major warship with small caliber bombs delivered from a fighter-type aircraft. When his plane was destroyed by hostile fire he organized a unit of ground troops into a beach defense and repulsed repeated Japanese attacks until he fell mortally wounded. On November 8, 1946, his widow was presented with the Medal of Honor, posthumously awarded to her husband for his heroic actions during the last bitter days of the defense of Wake. Major Elrod was initially buried on Wake Island, but was reinterred in Arlington National Cemetery, Fort Myer, Virginia, in October 1947.

: Capt. Henry T. Elrod, February 1, 1940

: Second Lieutenant Henry T. Elrod, USMC Photographed while stationed at Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, 1934. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph

: Captain Henry T. Elrod (photo is from the fall of 1941), VMF-211’s executive officer, distinguished himself both in the air and in the ground fighting at Wake, with deeds which earned him a posthumous Medal of Honor. Born in Georgia in 1905, Elrod attended the University of Georgia and Yale University. Enlisting in the Corps in 1927, he received his commission in 1931. Elrod is the only Marine hero from Wake who has had a warship–a guided missile frigate–named in his honor.

: Wreckage of Wildcat 211-F-11, flown by Capt Elrod on December 11, in the attack that sunk the Japanese destroyer Kisaragi

: ELROD, HENRY TALMAGE MAJOR US WWII VETERAN SERVICE DATES: Unknown DATE OF BIRTH: 09/27/1905 DATE OF INTERMENT: 10/30/1947 BURIED AT: SECTION 12 SITE 3246 ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

: ELROD, HENRY TALMAGE MAJOR US WWII VETERAN SERVICE DATES: Unknown DATE OF BIRTH: 09/27/1905 DATE OF INTERMENT: 10/30/1947 BURIED AT: SECTION 12 SITE 3246 ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

: The Wake Island Device is an award device of the United States military which is presented as a campaign clasp to both the Navy and Marine Corps Expeditionary Medals. The Wake Island Device is authorized for any sailor or marine who was awarded the Navy or Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal due to service during the defense of Wake Island during the opening days of U.S. involvement in the Second World War. To be awarded the Wake Island Device, a service member must have been awarded either the Navy Expeditionary Medal, or the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, and must have served on Wake Island between the dates of December 7 and December 22, 1941. The Wake Island Device is worn as a campaign clasp, inscribed with the words “Wake Island”, centered on the upper portion of the Navy or Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal. When wearing the Expeditionary Medal as a ribbon, the Wake Island Device is annotated by a silver “W” device, centered on the decoration. Henry T Elrod received the award for service on Wake Island.

: 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 from 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.

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Ed Cox:

September 27, 2015 at 2:59 am

My is wife Nancy Cox, her mother is Elsie Elrod Campbell and her father was Frank Elrod and mother was Elsie Cunningham Elrod. would like more information on your family tree. Thank You Ed Cox

September 27, 2015 at 3:02 am

Would like more on Elrod family history

Kathy Light:

July 4, 2017 at 12:24 am

Hello. I just found out about Henry Talmage Elrod. He was my father, Frank Rainey Light’s, 1st cousin. My father (now deceased) lost his twin brother, Joseph, in the Battle of Tarawa. He did not talk much about the war, although he served in the South Pacific Theater too. Hank’s mother, Bess, was my grandmother,Elizabeth Rainey Light’s, sister. Bess had three children…Hank, Mildred (Rinehart) and Kate. Her maiden name was Rainey. That makes Hank my second cousin, even though I was born in 1959. That is all I know for now, but I am just beginning my research. I wish you well.