World War II Honoree

Robert Lee Wilson

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Centralia, Illinois

Honored By

Ralph Bozorth

HE WAS POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR. PRIVATE FIRST CLASS, U.S. MARINE CORPS. ACCREDITED TO: ILLINOIS. CITATION FOR CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY AND INTREPIDITY AT THE RISK OF HIS LIFE ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY WHILE SERVING WITH THE 2ND BATTALION, 6TH MARINES, 2ND MARINE DIVISION, DURING ACTION AGAINST ENEMY JAPANESE FORCES AT TINIAN ISLAND, MARIANA ISLANDS GROUP, ON AUGUST 4, 1944. AS 1 OF A GROUP OF MARINES ADVANCING THROUGH HEAVY UNDERBRUSH TO NEUTRALIZE ISOLATED POINTS OF RESISTANCE, PRIVATE FIRST CLASS WILSON DARINGLY PRECEDED HIS COMPANIONS TOWARD A PILE OF ROCKS WHERE JAPANESE TROOPS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE HIDING. FULLY AWARE OF THE DANGER INVOLVED, HE WAS MOVING FORWARD WHILE THE REMAINDER OF THE SQUAD, ARMED WITH AUTOMATIC RIFLES, CLOSED TOGETHER IN THE REAR WHEN AN ENEMY GRENADE LANDED IN THE MIDST OF THE GROUP. QUICK TO ACT, PRIVATE FIRST CLASS WILSON CRIED A WARNING TO THE MEN AND UNHESITATINGLY THREW HIMSELF ON THE GRENADE, HEROICALLY SACRIFICING HIS OWN LIFE THAT THE OTHERS MIGHT LIVE AND FULFILL THEIR MISSION. HIS EXCEPTIONAL VALOR, HIS COURAGEOUS LOYALTY AND UNWAVERING DEVOTION TO DUTY IN THE FACE OF GRAVE PERIL REFLECT THE HIGHEST CREDIT UPON PRIVATE FIRST CLASS WILSON AND THE U.S. NAVAL SERVICE. HE GALLANTLY GAVE HIS LIFE FOR HIS COUNTRY.