World War II Honoree

Bert Wilson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Pawnee, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE IN 1943. TRAINED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT CAMP FANNIN AT TYLER, TEXAS. HIS REGIMENT STAGED AT CAMP PATRICK HENRY AT ORIANA, VIRGINIA ON DECEMBER 15, 1943 AWAITING OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT. SAILED FROM THE HAMPTON ROADS PORT OF EMBARKATION ON DECEMBER 24, 1943 AND ARRIVED AT CASABLANCA, MOROCCO IN NORTH AFRICA ON JANUARY 2, 1944. EMBARKED AND SAILED FOR ITALY AND ARRIVED AT NAPLES ON MARCH 27, 1944. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH COMPANY C, 1ST BATTALION, 339TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 85TH INFANTRY 'CUSTER' DIVISION DURING THE WAR, INCLUDING IN NORTH AFRICA, AND ITALY. PARTICIPATED IN THE ROME-ARNO, NORTH APENNINES, AND PO VALLEY CAMPAIGNS. WOUNDED IN ACTION IN 1944 DURING COMBAT OPERATIONS AT BOLOGNA, IN NORTHERN ITALY. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART FOR WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BRONZE SERVICE STARS (3 CAMPAIGNS), AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1946 WITH THE RANK OF PRIVATE FIRST CLASS AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.