World War II Honoree

Arthur Fred Wilson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Detroit, Michigan

Honored By

Nancy Taube

Relationship

Daughter

SERVED AS A RANGER WITH COLONEL DARBY'S 1ST RANGER BATTALION. PARTICIPATED IN THE CAMPAIGNS OF AFRICA, SICILY, AND ITALY. HE WAS PART OF THE FIRST WAVE AT THE INVASION OF ANZIO. WAS ONE OF 400+ U.S. RANGERS CAPTURED IN THE BATTLE OF CISTERNA DI LATINA AND SPENT THE NEXT 16 MONTHS AS A PRISONER OF WAR, IN A LABOR CAMP OUTSIDE OF STALAG II-B JUST INSIDE THE BORDER OF POLAND. FROM JANUARY THROUGH APRIL 1945, HE WAS PART OF THE DEATH MARCH FROM HAMMERSTEIN TO ROSTOCK ON THE BALTIC IN NORTHERN GERMANY. HE WAS LIBERATED BY THE BRITISH ARMY IN JUNE OF 1945. EARNED THE BRONZE STAR FOR THE BATTLE OF CISTERNA, TWO PURPLE HEART MEDALS, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, PRISONER OF WAR MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.