23 Mar 1945, Fri The Daily Tribune (Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin) Newspapers.com
Six days prior to the death of Charles Ellis Jr., the destruction of Burkenau and
Auschwitz crematoriums was ordered. Auschwitz was the largest Nazi concentration
camp, and under the reign of the commander Rudolf Hoess, over 1.1 million people died
in these two concentration camps alone, 90% of them being Jews. This number is enough
to populate a state and even some small countries. Many brave men, like Charles, gave
their lives to eliminate places of terror like those. Charles was killed in action on
November 30th, 1944 in Germany while working with a tank division. He left behind a
loving wife, Clara, and a very large family of brothers and sisters. As a First Lieutenant
in the Army, he was respected.
A First Lieutenant is the second lowest form of a commissioned officer; one
grade lower than a Captain. So though Charles was low on the authority ranking, his men
still had to respect him as he was their commanding officer. First Lieutenant is just one of
the first steps to a higher rank. Based on the rank as a commissioned officer, men would
receive a special pin. The higher the rank, the more elaborate the pin would become. In
Charles's case, he would wear a flat, silver, rectangular pin to show his authority over
others.
As a casualty of the brutal attacks from all countries in WWII, Charles felt the
horror and saw the massacres that we only can vaguely envision. He would have been
operational in the Army during the times of many, now, historical events. In Germany,
where Charles was stationed, the Holocaust was occurring with all of the cruel
experiments and torture. In the U.S., just weeks before Charles's death, Franklin D.
Roosevelt won his fourth consecutive term in the Presidential office. As a major figure in
U.S., and world, history; Roosevelt helped the United States economy during the Great
Depression and along with Winston Churchill personally determined the Allied Forces
strategies during World War II.
Throughout one of the most tragic events in history, many brave soldiers,
including Charles Ellis Jr., gave their lives for a greater cause. Though countless men
remain unaccounted for and unknown, lost in battle, they served a huge part in the
outcome of the war. Without the great service they provided for our country and the
world, our society could have drastically different characteristics. Though not everyone
received honorary medals after the war, every single person, man or woman, who gave of
their time and talents to put an end to the tragedies deserved one. We honor and salute
everyone who has made a difference and literally changed the world.
Sarah Vomocil, Student
Marshfield Junior High
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