Missing information?

Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?

Submit

Personal info

Full name
MADISON, Kellis Lamar
Date of birth
25 April 1919
Age
25
Place of birth
De Kalb, Kemper County, Mississippi
Hometown
De Kalb, Kemper County, Mississippi

Military service

Service number
34134314
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Platoon Commander
Unit
B Company,
9th Armored Infantry Battalion,
6th Armored Division,
2nd Platoon
Awards
Bronze Star,
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
12 November 1944
Place of death
Han-sur-Nied, France

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
Plot Row Grave
J 16 28

Immediate family

Members
George W. Madison (father)
Lou E. (Bethany) Madison (mother)
Valeria Madison (sister)
Gladys Madison (sister)
Wesley L. Madison (brother)
Albert H. Madison (brother)
Helen Madison (sister)
James W. Madison (brother)
Mary (Ballard) Madison (wife)

More information

T/Sgt Kellis L. Madison attended high school for three years and was employed at the Cobb Bros Construction Company before he enlisted at Camp Shelby, Mississippi on 10 October 1941.
In spite of heavy artillery fire, B company, as part of the Combat Command A, advanced to the Nied River, where the Engineers of the 25th Armored Engineer Battalion were successful, in spite of heavy enemy fire of all types, in cutting the wires which the Germans had placed to detonate the bridge, after which the 2nd platoon of B Company, led by Sgt. Madison under withering rifle fire, raced across the bridge at Hans-sur-Nied and with a platoon of tanks from the 68th Tank Battalion and secured a bridge head. Soon the remainder of the Combat Team and some troops of the 80th Infantry Division were able to enlarge and strengthen the bridgehead. It was in this action that Sgt Madison with several men of his platoon sought a little warmth from the cold and near-freezing rain in a house which the retreating Germans had just abandoned. Soon after occupying the house, Sgt Madison and several members of his platoon were killed when the house was shelled by German artillery.

He was first buried at the Temporary American Military Cemetery in Limey, France.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Bethanne Dufour Family Tree / U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, www.findagrave.com – Rebekah Duncan Young, www.super6th.org
Photo source: www.findagrave.com – Joe ABMC