World War II Honoree

George A. Wilson

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Jack Marshall

WORKED AS A SIGNALMAN ON CRUISER USS AUGUSTA, CA-31. TRANSPORTED PRESIDENT TRUMAN TO EUROPE FOR POTSDAM CONFERENCE WHERE IT WAS AGREED TO DROP ATOMIC BOMBS ON HIROSHIMA AND NAGASAKI. SHIP SHELLED NORMANDY ON D-DAY WITH 8' CANNONS. ATTENDED BOOT CAMP AND QUARTERMASTER SCHOOL IN NEWPORT RHODE ISLAND. SHIP WAS ANCHORED IN NAPLES BAY WHEN VOLCANO, MT. VESUVIUS ERUPTED IN 1944. SHIP CHASED GERMAN SHIPS SCHARNHORST AND TIRPITZ. SHIP WENT TO THE ISLAND OF CORSICA AND GUANTANAMO BAY IN CUBA. SHIP WAS DETECTED BY GERMAN SCOUT PLANES WHICH CALLED IN ENEMY SUBMARINE. U.S. DESTROYER STEAMED BETWEEN SUBMARINE AND USS AUGUSTA AND SPOILED THE SUBMARINES TORPEDO SHOT, WHICH SAVED THE AUGUSTA.