World War II Honoree

Eber Otis Wilson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Johnsonville, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

INDUCTED AND ENTERED SERVICE ON NOVEMBER 19, 1943. SAW ACTION AS SQUAD LEADER IN COMPANY E, 121ST REGIMENT, 8TH INFANTRY DIVISION DURING THE NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE AND ARDENNES CAMPAIGNS. FIRST COMBAT WAS AT ST LO, FRANCE. SURVIVED THE BATTLE FOR BREST, FRANCE; HUERTGEN FORREST AND THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. ON MARCH 6, 1945, NEARING THE RHINE RIVER, SEVERELY WOUNDED BY 5 SHOTS IN THE BACK AND SPINE. EVACUATED TO ENGLAND FOR TREATMENT AND RECUPERATED AT WAKEMAN CONVALESCENT HOSPITAL IN ATTERBURY, INDIANA. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BRONZE BATTLE STARS, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, PURPLE HEART MEDAL, BRONZE STAR MEDAL WITH V DEVICE AND THE SILVER STAR MEDAL. HONORABLE DISCHARGE AS STAFF SERGEANT ON SEPTEMBER 25, 1945.