Thunderbird Trail honors sacrifices of WWII Thunderbirds

Official Statements

• Oklahoma National Guard, November 11: “OKLAHOMA CITY — Standing on the hillside where 2nd Lt. Ernest Childers fought against German machine gun positions in September 1943, Grover Wind struggled to find the right words.”

• Oklahoma National Guard, November 11: “Wind, secretary of veterans affairs for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, had heard the stories. He knew Childers had earned the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Italian campaign of World War II - but standing on the ground where Childers led his men into battle, seeing the terrain and the obstacles he faced, brought a new understanding of his sacrifice.”

• Oklahoma National Guard, November 11: "You know, we hear about it. We read about it,” Wind said. “We have named our building after him…but to actually stand on the very ground that he was at and see the obstacles, see what he had to come through, you can't explain [it].”

• Oklahoma National Guard, November 11: “More than 80 years after Childers' actions helped secure the hillside near Oliveto, the Italian community continues to honor the Oklahoma Soldier. During a September 2026 visit by members of the Oklahoma National Guard, town leaders granted Childers honorary citizenship, recognizing the legacy of a man whose actions helped liberate their community.”

• Oklahoma National Guard, November 11: “The recognition was part of a series of ceremonies and memorial dedications honoring the 45th Infantry Division's service during World War II. Together, the events highlighted the enduring connection between Oklahoma and the Italian communities the Thunderbirds helped liberate. For the Oklahoma National Guard, the visit was another step in developing the Thunderbird Trail, an international initiative to preserve the history of the 45th Infantry Division and ensure the sacrifices of its World War II veterans are not forgotten.”

• Oklahoma National Guard, November 11: “Childers, a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, served with the 180th Infantry Regiment. On Sept. 22, 1943, he led eight enlisted men against German defensive positions near Oliveto. Despite being wounded, Childers continued the assault, eliminating enemy positions and capturing a German mortar observer. For his actions, he received the Medal of Honor on April 22, 1944. "As a warrior, he was raised and trained to protect his people," Wind said. "Obviously, the people were the men under his command."

• Oklahoma National Guard, November 11: “The experience also reinforced the importance of sharing Childers' story with Oklahomans and ensuring his courage is recognized at home. "And when you stand on the very hill, when you've seen the obstacles that he had to overcome, when you see as we drove in, I looked around and saw the terrain, and I saw where the Germans were positioned. It's hard to describe [what the Soldiers went through]," Wind said.”

• Oklahoma National Guard, November 11: “In Oliveto, the recognition of Childers was one of several moments during the September visit that demonstrated how deeply the legacy of the Thunderbirds remains rooted in the communities they liberated. In nearby Serre, local officials unveiled a plaque honoring the 45th Infantry Division before granting honorary citizenship to the division.”

• Oklahoma National Guard, November 11: “On September 9, the Oklahoma National Guard delegation also attended the annual ceremony commemorating the Operation Avalanche landings at Paestum, where Allied forces came ashore in September 1943 to begin the invasion of mainland Italy. For Brig. Gen. Brad Carter, assistant adjutant general-Army for Oklahoma, the ceremonies represent an important responsibility to preserve the history of the Oklahoma National Guard.”

• Oklahoma National Guard, November 11: "Educating those that follow us about their predecessors, about what they did here in Italy and in World War II and other conflicts, is extremely important to us," Carter said. "It's up to us to preserve that history. If we're not going to do it, we know what usually happens. It gets lost. And so we can't let that happen."

• Oklahoma National Guard, November 11: “The Thunderbird Trail grew from efforts to recognize the 45th Infantry Division's history and connect the many locations where its Soldiers fought. The initiative links battlefields, monuments and museums across Europe to create a more complete account of the division's contributions to the Allied campaign. The effort carries significance beyond Oklahoma and Italy. The sacrifices made during the Italian campaign helped establish an alliance that remains central to the relationship between the United States and Italy today.”

• Oklahoma National Guard, November 11: “U.S. Consul General Terrence Flynn said preserving that shared history is important to maintaining the relationship between the two nations. "The alliance that came out of World War II still stands today, and it's stronger than ever," Flynn said. The shared sacrifices made during the liberation of Europe deserve recognition by future generations, Flynn said.”

• Oklahoma National Guard, November 11: "It's important to memorialize them for future generations so they understand the sacrifices that were made in honor of liberty and democracy and our shared values," Flynn said. Flynn also emphasized that remembering the past provides an opportunity to learn from history and maintain strong alliances. For the members of the Oklahoma National Guard who traveled to Italy, those lessons were especially meaningful. Walking the same ground where previous generations fought offered a perspective that cannot be fully understood through history books or military records.”

• Oklahoma National Guard, November 11: “Col. Khalid Hussein, then-commander of the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team - the modern unit carrying on the 45th Infantry Division’s legacy, described the experience as one of the most educational and humbling of his career. "This is what everyone who wears the Thunderbird should know. This history," Hussein said. "Everyone needs to understand the lineage, the legacy and the history of the 45th." Hussein said the visit strengthened his appreciation for the Soldiers who wore the patch before him and the communities whose lives they changed.”

• Oklahoma National Guard, November 11: "I've always been proud to wear the Thunderbird patch. That's been amplified 100 fold after this trip," Hussein said. "I'm more proud now, understanding the history of the Soldiers who wore this patch and the impact they had in history, because it really is a part of history."

• Oklahoma National Guard, November 11: “As the years pass, fewer World War II veterans and witnesses remain to share their firsthand accounts of the war. The Thunderbird Trail is helping preserve those accounts by connecting battlefields, memorials and communities across Europe to document the 45th Infantry Division's role in the Italian campaign.”

• Oklahoma National Guard, November 11: “Through the project, the Oklahoma National Guard and its partners are creating a lasting historical record of the division's service and the communities its Soldiers helped liberate, allowing future generations to learn about the campaign and the sacrifices made there. For Carter, the significance of preserving that history was evident while standing on the battlefield where Childers fought. "Here we are today with the freedoms we have because of people like Ernest Childers," Wind said.”