World War II Honoree

Joseph Cox Wilson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Madison, Georgia

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED AS A GLIDER AND C-47 'SKYTRAIN' TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT PILOT FROM JULY 15, 1942-NOVEMBER 19, 1945, INCLUDING OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER, IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO), DURING THE WAR. PARTICIPATED IN OPERATION 'MARKET-GARDEN', THE ALLIED PLAN TO CAPTURE BRIDGES OVER DUTCH WATERWAYS BY COMBINED AIRBORNE AND GROUND ASSAULTS ON SEPTEMBER 17, 1944. CONDUCTED DURING THE RHINELAND CAMPAIGN, IT WAS THE LARGEST ALLIED AIRBORNE OPERATION OF THE WAR. ALSO TOOK PART IN OPERATION 'VARSITY', THE ALLIED AIRBORNE ASSAULT ACROSS THE RHINE RIVER IN MARCH, 1945. CONDUCTED DURING THE CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGN, IT WAS THE LARGEST SINGLE PARACHUTE DROP DURING THE WAR. AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.