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<p>We of <em>Edward C. Christl, Jr.</em>’s outfit can never forget the passing of our dear friend and comrade, killed May 4th, 1945, at Eferding in Austria while leading a body of Infantry Troops forward to the attack against holdout S.S. Forces. Yes, Ed met his death in one of his many gallant acts above and beyond his duty as an Artillery Forward Observer.</p>
<p>He joined us in the Fall of 1941, eager of spirit and sure of himself, so much so that he could not fail to inspire those with whom he worked or played. It made no real difference to Ed that he was the only 2d Lieutenant in our Battery, and thus was assigned all the menial tasks to perform. Each job to him was an important rung to climb upward toward the big job ahead.</p>
<p>Ed was a true leader of men and he inspired their following. Their comfort and safety always was uppermost in his mind, and everyone. Officer and Enlisted Man as well, loved him like a brother.</p>
<p>We thought that we knew Ed well before we left the States, but we found we had a lot to learn in the awful test of battle. For it is in battle that men’s Souls are tried. In the awful din of falling artillery and mortar shells or in the whine of machine gun bullets, or the fearsome sound of the “Screaming Mimmie” a man becomes either a leader or one who is led.</p>
<p>No one who saw it could ever forget that night in the cellar at Battalion Headquarters near Saarlautern, Germany when Ed asked for the most dangerous forward observation post. He knew no fear. All his enthusiasm shone forth and he was simply trying to say that it wouldn’t be so tough after all.</p>
<p>For those who were with him constantly the name of Altmarschen, Muhlhausen, Regensburg, and Eferding will long be remembered as the places where Ed gave his best for all that he believed to be right, and in finality gave even his life.</p>
<p>To those who loved and knew him his ventures need not be extolled. Even the doughboys with whom he worked knew it. “Call the tall Lt ... he’ll get us Artillery Fire” or “Ask Lt. Christl, he knows”. It was Ed who swam the cold Fulda River to do the job of reconnaissance for the doughboys. And at Eferding one little infantryman was heard to mutter to himself “I’d have killed a dozen of those S.S.—with my bare hands if I’d known they got that big Lt.”</p>
<p>Those who knew Ed will never forget his inspiring courage and devotion to duly and we who loved him so dearly will never forget his kind, considerate and generous nature and ready smile. It is with deep personal sorrow that we bid you farewell, Ed. Our loss is irreplaceable.</p>
<p><em>—G. M. T., Jr.</em></p>
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