Leland Ehrlich

Leland Ehrlich served in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.

His award citation reads:
 * The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Sergeant Leland Ernest Ehrlich (MCSN: 576704), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while attached to Service Battery, Third Battalion, Eleventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in the Republic of Korea on 7 December 1950. Proceeding with the forward platoon of an Infantry Battalion in darkness when a burning building illuminated the area and the enemy suddenly attacked with machine-gun fire from a strong roadblock, pinning down the advance elements and preventing them from delivering effective counterfire, Sergeant Ehrlich, deployed with his squad next to the supporting tank which had stalled on the bridge and was under blistering automatic weapons fire, voluntarily left his position of comparative safety and dashed alone toward the emplacement. Firing his rifle as he ran and drawing the enemy's fire to himself, he charged the machine-gun nest single-handedly, disrupting the attack and enabling his platoon to outflank and destroy the stronghold. Although mortally wounded during the furious action, Sergeant Ehrlich, by his gallant fighting spirit, fortitude and valiant efforts in the face of almost certain death, contributed to the saving of many lives and to the successful advance of his Regiment past this critical point. His inspiring devotion to duty throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

Ehrlich was born on January 24, 1928 in Dousman, Wisconsin.