World War II Honoree

Thomas Douglas 'Tom' Wilson

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

GRADUATED FROM THE NAVAL ACADEMY IN ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND ON JUNE 19, 1942 AND COMMISSIONED AN ENSIGN. ASSIGNED TO CORNELL UNIVERSITY AT ITHACA, NEW YORK TO TEACH NAVAL RESERVE OFFICERS. SERVED THERE UNTIL FEBRUARY 1943 WHEN HE WAS REASSIGNED FOR SEA DUTY ABOARD THE DESTROYER USS FULLAM (DD-474). SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER ABOARD THE USS FULLAM, FIRST AS GUNNERY OFFICER AND LATER AS EXECUTIVE OFFICER. PARTICIPATED IN ESCORT AND PATROL OPERATIONS IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS BEGINNING AUGUST 28, 1943. HIS SHIP COVERED LANDINGS ON CAPE TOROKINA, GUARDED CONVOYS CARRYING REINFORCEMENTS AND SUPPLIES TO BOUGAINVILLE, AND BOMBARDED ENEMY POSITIONS IN THE EMPRESS AUGUSTA BAY AREA BETWEEN NOVEMBER 1, 1943 AND JANUARY 25, 1944. TOOK PART IN PATROL, ESCORT AND BOMBARDMENT MISSIONS DURING LANDINGS AT EMIRAU IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS, AND IN ASSAULTS AT SAIPAN AND TINIAN IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS. FOUGHT IN THE BATTLE OF THE PHILIPPINE SEA ON JUNE 19, 1944, AND IN THE BOMBARDMENT OF GUAM IN JULY, 1944. WHILE SAILING FOR THE ASSAULT ON THE PALAU ISLANDS, HIS SHIP COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VESSEL AND WAS BADLY DAMAGED ON SEPTEMBER 12, 1944. HIS SHIP TOOK ON SURVIVORS OF THE OTHER VESSEL THAT SANK, AND THEN CONTINUED TO PROVIDE FIRE SUPPORT AT PELELIU UNTIL RETIRING FOR REPAIRS. PARTICIPATED IN THE ASSAULT ON IWO JIMA BETWEEN FEBRUARY 16-28, 1945, AND THE ASSAULT ON OKINAWA BETWEEN APRIL 1-JULY 1, 1945. HIS SHIP WAS ENGAGED IN ANTISUBMARINE AND ANTIAIRCRAFT FIRE SUPPORT WHEN THE WAR ENDED. AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. RESIGNED, WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN AFTER THE WAR.