World War II Honoree

Lewis D. Wilson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Louisville, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A DRAFTEE ON FEBRUARY 19, 1942 AT SCOTT FIELD, ILLINOIS. COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING AND QUALIFIED AS A RIFLEMAN, MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY (MOS) 745. DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. ON DECEMBER 6, 1943 BOUND FOR THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. SERVED WITH IN-THEATER UNITS IN THE NORMANDY AND NORTHERN FRANCE CAMPAIGNS. ASSIGNED TO AND SERVED WITH COMPANY E, 395TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 99TH INFANTRY DIVISION, AFTER THEY ARRIVED IN COMBAT ON NOVEMBER 9, 1944 THROUGH THE ARDENNES AND RHINELAND CAMPAIGNS. WOUNDED IN GERMANY BY ENEMY ACTION IN JANUARY 1945. QUALIFIED AND ALSO SERVED AS AN AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP FOREMAN (MOS 337). EARNED THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 4 BRONZE BATTLE STARS AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A TECHNICAL SERGEANT ON OCTOBER 1, 1945 AT THE SEPARATION CENTER, FORT SHERIDAN, ILLINOIS.