World War II Honoree

John J. Wilpers, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Albany, New York

Honored By

Friends of American Heroes

HE RECEIVED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL AS A 26-YEAR-OLD LIEUTENANT SERVING AS A KEY MEMBER OF THE ARMY INTELLIGENCE UNIT THAT ARRESTED AND THWARTED THE SUICIDE OF HIDEKI TOJO, THE JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER WHO DIRECTED HIS COUNTRY’S SURPRISE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR ON DECEMBER 7, 1941, AND RANKED HIGH ON THE LIST OF JAPANESE LEADERS WANTED ON WAR CRIMES CHARGES FOR WHICH HE WAS LATER CONVICTED AND EXECUTED. HIS COMMANDING OFFICER RECOMMENDED THE DECORATION IN 1947, BUT THE PAPERWORK APPARENTLY DISAPPEARED AND REMAINED LOST UNTIL NEARLY SIX DECADES LATER.