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TAPS
Fading light dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky,
Gleaming bright.
From afar drawing nigh,
Falls the night.
Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, From the hills,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.
Then good night, Peaceful night,
Till the light of the dawn
Shineth bright,
God is near, do not fear,
Friend, good night. |
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BORN:
September 27, 1905 at Rebecca, GA
Entered Service in the US
Marine Corps from Ashburn, GA
Earned the Medal of Honor during World War II For heroism on
December 08 - 23, 1941 at Wake Island
DIED: December
23, 1941 at the age of 36
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While attached
to Marine Fighting Squadron 211, during action against enemy
Japanese land, surface and aerial units at Wake Island, Captain
Elrod engaged vastly superior forces of enemy bombers and warships
on 9 and 12 December. He shot down two of a flight of 22 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 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
for the strength of his sector's gallant resistance, on December
23, Captain Elrod led his men with bold aggressiveness until he
fell, mortally wounded.
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