John Leumas Childress
1951
Textile Manufacturing
Cadet Sergeant, First Sergeant, Lieutenant Colonel Battalion Commander; Vice President Senior Class; Blue Key; Scabbard and Blade; Senior Council; Aiken-Augusta-Edgefield Club; Who's Who Among America’s Colleges and Universities, Football 1,2,3,4; Block “C” Club 2,3,4
Augusta, Georgia
Wife: Frances Love of Augusta, Georgia
Army, Second Lieutenant
Tank Company, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division
Silver Star, Purple Heart, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Presidential Unit Citation, Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Jan 31, 1929
Jun 26, 1952
Second Lieutenant Childress was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in North Korea on June 26, 1952. IDNO CHGD FM. Location of Loss: Old Baldy - Pork Chop Hill area
Westover Cemetery, Augusta, GA
SW
Personal Remembrances
"John was an outstanding leader, even in Augusta Richmond Academy High School where he won a football scholarship to Clemson. He adapted to Clemson’s cadet life, becoming a Lieutenant Colonel and Battalion Commander. He was a member of many campus activities including The Senior Council. He was a standout football player and he succeeded as President of his Senior Class at mid-year. Childress made “Who’s Who Among America’s Colleges and Universities” his senior year.
At graduation he was commissioned and sent to Korea as a tank officer. He was killed by a North Korean sniper when his platoon had overrun an enemy position and John was directing his men from his own tank turret. He was a fearless tank soldier and a valiant American."
- William Laffoday, Class of 1951, Charlotte, NC
I played football with John in 1946. He played end and was a very good player, a lot better than I.
- Richard Sublette, Florida
Additional Information
Young Augustan Killed in Action at Korean Front
Second Lieutenant John L. Childress ofAugusta and Warrenton, Fla. and husband of Mrs. Childress of Augusta was killed in action recently in Korea. Mrs. Mary M. Love, mother-in-law of the young officer was notified this morning of his death. She received a telegram from Lt. Childress father J. F. Childress of Warrenton, Fla.
Lt. Childress graduated from Clemson College in June, 1951, and went into service shortly thereafter. He trained at Ft. Knox, Ky. and Camp Irwin Calif. Prior to going overseas approximately three months ago he was serving with a tank battalion.
The young soldier’s death was made know to his parents via a War Department telegram dispatched on June 26 but neither the exact date nor the circumstances surrounding his death was revealed.
While at Clemson Lt. Childress was a member of the football squad. He was well-known in Augusta. Mrs. Childress resides here with her mother on Wrightsboro road.
Source Augusta Chronicle -7/3/1952
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Grave marker at Westover Cemetery, Augusta, GA