World War II Honoree

Samuel Vaughan Wilson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Rice, Virginia

Honored By

Samuel Vaughan Wilson III

Relationship

Grandson

HE JOINED THE UNITED STATES ARMY 116TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, VIRGINIA NATIONAL GUARD AS A 16-YEAR OLD PRIVATE IN 1940 AND BY EARLY 1942 BECAME A SQUAD LEADER, PLATOON SERGEANT AND ACTING FIRST SERGEANT BEFORE BEING SENT TO OFFICIERS CANDIDATE SCHOOL 'OCS'. AS A YOUNG OFFICER, HE TAUGHT GUERILLA AND COUNTER GUERILLA TACTICS AT THE INFANTRY SCHOOL AT FORT BENNING, GEORGIA, IN 1942 AND 1943. IN 1943, ALREADY A FIRST LIEUTENANT AT THE AGE OF 19, HE BECAME CHIEF RECONNAISSANCE OFFICER FOR THE 5307TH COMPOSITE UNIT (PROVISIONAL), BETTER KNOWN AS MERRILL'S MARAUDERS, WHICH OPERATED BEHIND ENEMY LINES IN BURMA DURING THE WAR. AWARDS: CHINA-BURMA-INDIA MEDAL, SILVER STAR W/OAK LEAF CLUSTER, BRONZE STAR V W/OAK LEAF CLUSTER.