World War II Honoree

Stewart Moore Wilson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Newtown Square, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Wife, Children & Jim Roberts

INDUCTED INTO THE U.S. ARMY ON 5 MAY 1942 AND SENT TO CAMP SHELBY, MISSISSIPPI TO TRAIN AS A SCOUT WITH THE 43RD COMBAT INFANTRY DIVISION BEFORE BEING SHIPPED OVERSEES IN OCTOBER 1942. REACHED GUADALCANAL IN EARLY 1943 BEFORE THE CAMPAIGN HAD ENDED AND AIDED IN THE MOPPING UP OF ISOLATED JAPANESE UNITS. SERVED IN THE NORTHERN SOLOMON ISLANDS, NEW GUINEA AND TEAMED UP WITH THE U.S. MARINES TO WIPE OUT JAPANESE OUTPOSTS ON VANGANU ISLAND. FROM THERE THE UNIT MOVED TO NEW GEORGIA TO CAPTURE THE VITAL MUNDA AIR STRIP, TAKING 35 DAYS OF DIFFICULT JUNGLE WARFARE TO ACHIEVE THE MISSION OBJECTIVE BEFORE THE AIRPORT WAS SEIZED. AWARDED THE SILVER STAR FOR GALLANTRY IN ACTION AT NEW GEORGIA, SOLOMON ISLANDS ON 31 JULY 1943 FOR EFFECTIVELY SILENCING AN ENEMY MACHINE GUN NEST WHILE UNDER SNIPER FIRE. SENT TO NEW GUINEA NEXT AND PARTICIPATED IN THE BLOODY BATTLE OF THE DRINIUMOR RIVER IN WHICH MANY THOUSANDS OF JAPANESE WERE SLAUGHTERED AS THEY ATTEMPTED TO CROSS THE SWIFT FLOWING RIVER. AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL, COMBAT INFANTRY BADGE, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL AND PURPLE HEART BEFORE RETURNING HOME TO THE STATES ON CHRISTMAS DAY 1944. SPENT THE NEXT 10 MONTHS STATIONED IN FLORIDA BEFORE BEING HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN OCTOBER 1945.