World War II Honoree

William H. Wilbur

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Palmer, Massachusetts

Honored By

Ralph Bozorth

HE WAS AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR. COLONEL, U.S. ARMY, WESTERN TASK FORCE, NORTH AFRICA. PLACE AND DATE: FEDELA, NORTH AFRICA, NOVEMBER 8, 1942. ENTERED SERVICE AT PALMER, MASSACHUSETTS. BIRTH: PALMER, MASSACHUSETTS. GO 2, JANUARY 13, 1943. CITATION FOR CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY AND INTREPIDITY IN ACTION ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY. COLONEL WILBUR PREPARED THE PLAN FOR MAKING CONTACT WITH FRENCH COMMANDERS IN CASABLANCA AND OBTAINING AN ARMISTICE TO PREVENT UNNECESSARY BLOODSHED. ON NOVEMBER 8, 1942, HE LANDED AT FEDELA WITH THE LEADING ASSAULT WAVES WHERE OPPOSITION HAD DEVELOPED INTO A FIRM AND CONTINUOUS DEFENSIVE LINE ACROSS HIS ROUTE OF ADVANCE. COMMANDEERING A VEHICLE, HE WAS DRIVEN TOWARD THE HOSTILE DEFENSES UNDER INCESSANT FIRE, FINALLY LOCATING A FRENCH OFFICER WHO ACCORDED HIM PASSAGE THROUGH THE FORWARD POSITIONS. HE THEN PROCEEDED IN TOTAL DARKNESS THROUGH 16 MILES OF ENEMY-OCCUPIED COUNTRY INTERMITTENTLY SUBJECTED TO HEAVY BURSTS OF FIRE, AND ACCOMPLISHED HIS MISSION BY DELIVERING HIS LETTERS TO APPROPRIATE FRENCH OFFICIALS IN CASABLANCA. RETURNING TOWARD HIS COMMAND, COLONEL WILBUR DETECTED A HOSTILE BATTERY FIRING EFFECTIVELY ON OUR TROOPS. HE TOOK CHARGE OF A PLATOON OF AMERICAN TANKS AND PERSONALLY LED THEM IN AN ATTACK AND CAPTURE OF THE BATTERY. FROM THE MOMENT OF LANDING UNTIL THE CESSATION OF HOSTILE RESISTANCE, COLONEL WILBUR'S CONDUCT WAS VOLUNTARY AND EXEMPLARY IN ITS COOLNESS AND DARING.