World War II Honoree

William G. Wilson

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Phoenixville, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Robert G. Wilson

Relationship

Son

SERVED AS A COMBAT CAMERAMAN AND MARINE AVIATOR WITH 1ST AND 2ND MARINE AIR WINGS IN SOUTH PACIFIC. HE FLEW NUMEROUS COMBAT MISSIONS AND WAS A QUALIFIED TAIL-GUNNER. ATTAINING THE RANK OF STAFF SERGEANT, HE SAW DUTY ON GUADALCANAL, BOUGAINVILLE, PELELIU, MUNDA, ESPIRITU SANTO, RABAUL, LEYTE GULF AND NEW GEORGIA IN THE BRITISH SOLOMON ISLANDS. HE WAS PERSONALLY AWARDED A MEDAL BY ADMIRAL CHESTER W. NIMITZ FOR COURAGE UNDER FIRE WHILE FILMING A CARGO DROP IN AN EXPOSED POSITION FROM THE OPEN DOOR OF AN AIRCRAFT TO DETERMINE PARACHUTE DRIFT PATTERNS. ONE OF HIS PHOTOGRAPHS OF A FIERCE NIGHT BATTLE AT BLOODY NOSE RIDGE ON PELELIU, PUBLISHED IN OVER 500 NEWSPAPERS, WAS RECOGNIZED BY COMMANDER EDWARD STEICHEN, CHIEF OF NAVAL PHOTOGRAPHY, AS ONE OF THE BEST PICTURES DEPICTING ACTION IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS.