World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
John N. Wilson
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Douglas County, Nebraska
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: LIEUTENANT COLONEL. SERVED AS COMMANDER OF THE 219TH FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION, 35TH INFANTRY ‘SANTA FE’ DIVISION ATTACHED TO THE U.S. 1ST ARMY. HIS DIVISION WAS A UNIT OF THE VAST ARMADA THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, D-DAY, JUNE 6, 1944, OPERATION OVERLORD AND LANDED ON THE OMAHA BEACHHEAD, BATTLE OF NORMANDY. HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION TUESDAY, JULY 11, 1944 IN THE VICINITY OF PURPLE HEART CORNER DURING THE BATTLE OF ST. LO, FRANCE AND IS BURIED IN THE NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: SILVER STAR AND THE PURPLE HEART. THE SILVER STAR WAS AWARDED TO THE COLONEL FOR DISTINGUISHED GALLANTRY IN ACTION AND VALOR IN COMBAT IN THE FACE OF THE ENEMY.