World War II Honoree

Paul Allen Wilson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Honored By

Greta Kimberling Wilson

Relationship

Wife

PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. INDUCTED INTO U.S. ARMY IN OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA. SENT TO FORT SILL, OKLAHOMA FOR STAGING AND FORT MCCLELLAND, ALABAMA FOR INFANTRY SCHOOL. TRANSPORTED TO FORT BENNING, GEORGIA FOR PARACHUTE SCHOOL; PLACED ON LIBERTY SHIP FOR SWINDEN, ENGLAND TO BECOME PARATROOPER WITH 193RD GLIDER REGIMENT IN 17TH AIRBORNE DIVISION; DIVISION FOLLOWED GENERAL PATTON AND RELIEVED 101ST AIRBORNE TROOPS AT BASTOGNE, BELGIUM. THE 193RD GLIDER REGIMENT AND OTHER UNITS OF THE 17TH AIRBORNE DIVISION BEGAN THE ALLIED COUNTER-OFFENSIVE IN SOUTHERN PART OF THE BULGE. BATTLE WAS FOUGHT ALONG RIDGE LINE THAT FOLLOWED BASTOGNE-MARCHE HIGHWAY, ABOUT 10 MILES WEST OF BASTOGNE. REGIMENT'S CASUALTIES WERE CATASTROPHIC WITH OVER 60% OF ITS MEN KILLED DURING BATTLE OF THE BULGE. HONOREE WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR DISABLING CASE OF TRENCH FOOT WHICH AFFECTED TROOPS IN EPIDEMIC PROPORTIONS BECAUSE OF CONTINUOUS COMBAT IN COLD WET WEATHER. AFTER WAR ENDED, SERVED GUARD DUTY AT DUISBURG, GERMANY AND THEN TRANSFERRED BACK TO FRANCE TO AWAIT LIBERTY SHIP HOME. AWARDED PURPLE HEART, WWII VICTORY RIBBON, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN THEATER RIBBON, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER RIBBON AND 3 BATTLE STARS FOR CAMPAIGNS OF ARDENNES, RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE.