World War II Honoree

Robert Louis Wilson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Elk City, Kansas

Honored By

Philip Kevin Wilson

Relationship

Son

INDUCTED FEBRUARY 18, 1943. AWARDED PARATROOPER WINGS AFTER COMPLETING PARACHUTE SCHOOL (FORT BENNING, GEORGIA) IN SEPTEMBER 1943. SENT TO CAMP MACKALL, NORTH CAROLINA WHERE HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE 464TH PARACHUTE FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION. THERE, WORKED AS COOK FOR HEADQUARTERS AND SERVICE BATTERY THROUGH FEBRUARY 1945. AT THAT TIME, SHIPPED OVERSEAS ABOARD USS GENERAL WILLIAM WEIGEL. UPON ARRIVAL IN CAMP LUCKY STRIKE (FRANCE), ATTACHED TO 13TH AIRBORNE DIVISION. AFTER A NEW TABLE OF OPERATIONS ESTABLISHED IN MARCH 1943, REASSIGNED TO 17TH AIRBORNE DIVISION AS PART OF THE 507TH COMBAT TEAM FOR COMBAT JUMP OVER THE RHINE WITH OPERATION VARSITY (MARCH 24, 1945). PROMOTED TO CORPORAL TECHNICIAN 5TH GRADE IN GERMANY. RETURNED TO U.S. ABOARD U.S. ARMY TRANSPORT SEA PORPOISE IN AUGUST 1945. HONORABLE DISCHARGE JANUARY 31, 1946.