World War II Honoree
Killed In Action
George Wilkens
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
Honored By
Alexander Jacobs, Jr.
PENNSYLVANIA MILITARY COLLEGE CLASS OF 1943. SERVED WITH HEADQUARTERS COMPANY, 3RD BATTALION, 398TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 100TH INFANTRY DIVISION IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. WHILE LEADING A COMBAT PATROL IN ENEMY TERRITORY NEAR LEMBERG, FRANCE, HE ENCOUNTERED A HOSTILE MINE FIELD AND ORDERED HIS MEN TO RETRACE THEIR STEPS. WHEN AN ALTERNATE ROUTE WAS FOUND, HE INSTRUCTED THE MEMBERS OF THE PATROL TO REMAIN BEHIND WHILE HE MOVED FORWARD ALONE TO RECONNOITER. IN SO DOING, HE WAS KILLED BY THE DETONATION OF A MINE, THUS SAVING THE LIVES OF HIS COMRADES. DECORATIONS: SILVER STAR, BRONZE STAR, PURPLE HEART, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL.