World War II Honoree

Mickey Leroy Wilson

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED AS A GUNNER'S MATE IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER ABOARD THE BATTLESHIP USS NEW MEXICO (BB-40). HIS SHIP PATROLLED SOUTHWEST PACIFIC WATERS, SERVED IN ALASKAN WATERS, AND PARTICIPATED IN OPERATIONS IN THE GILBERT, MARSHALL AND MARIANA ISLANDS. TOOK PART IN OPERATIONS AT LEYTE IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS FROM NOVEMBER 22, 1944 TO DECEMBER 2, 1944 AND AT LUZON IN JANUARY, 1945. AT LUZON, HIS SHIP WAS STRUCK BY A KAMIKAZE SUICIDE PLANE ON JANUARY 6, 1945, KILLING 30 AND WOUNDING 87 SHIPMATES. FOUGHT AT OKINAWA BEGINNING MARCH 26, 1945. USS NEW MEXICO DESTROYED 8 SUICIDE BOATS IN AN ATTACK ON MAY 11, 1945 BUT 2 SUICIDE BOATS SUCCEEDED IN SETTING THE SHIP ON FIRE AND KILLING 54 AND WOUNDING 119. HIS SHIP WAS IN TOKYO BAY, JAPAN ON SEPTEMBER 2, 1945 TO WITNESS THE FORMAL SURRENDER OF THE JAPANESE. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, 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. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.