General Louis Hugh Wilson, Jr., MOH
General Louis Hugh Wilson, Jr., USMC Medal of Honor and Commandant of the Marine Corps. He was born February 11, 1920 in Brandon, Mississippi, the son of Louis Hugh Wilson, and Bertha E Buchanan. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1941 from Millsaps College, Jackson, Mississippi, where he played football and track. He enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in May 1941 at the age of 21. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in November 1941. After attending officers’ basic training, he was assigned to the 9th Marine Regiment at Marine Corps Base, San Diego, California. Wilson went overseas in February 1943, making stopping in Guadalcanal, Efate, and Bougainville. He was promoted to captain in April 1943. During the assault on Guam, July 25-26, 1944, while commanding Company F, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, he earned the Medal of honor.
“Captain Louis Hugh Wilson, Jr. ordered to take that portion of the hill within his zone of action, Captain Wilson initiated his attack in mid-afternoon, pushed up the rugged, open terrain against terrific machine-gun and rifle fire for 300 yards and successfully captured the objective. Promptly assuming command of other disorganized units and motorized equipment in addition to his own company and one reinforcing platoon, he organized his night defenses in the face of continuous hostile fire and, although wounded three times during this five-hour period, completed his disposition of men and guns before retiring to the company command post for medical attention. Shortly thereafter, when the enemy launched the first of a series of savage counterattacks lasting all night, he voluntarily rejoined his besieged units and repeatedly exposed himself to the merciless hail of shrapnel and bullets, dashing 50 yards into the open on one occasion to rescue a wounded Marine lying helpless beyond the front-lines. Fighting fiercely in hand-to-hand encounters, he led his men in furiously waged battle for approximately ten hours, tenaciously holding his line and repelling the fanatically renewed counter-thrusts until he succeeded in crushing the last efforts of the hard-pressed Japanese early the following morning. Then organizing a 17-man patrol, he immediately advanced upon a strategic slope essential to the security of his position and, boldly defying intense mortar, machine-gun, and rifle fire which struck down 13 of his men, drove relentlessly forward with the remnants of his patrol to seize the vital ground. By his indomitable leadership, daring combat tactics, and valor in the face of overwhelming odds, Captain Wilson succeeded in capturing and holding the strategic high ground in his regimental sector, thereby contributing essentially to the success of his regimental mission and to the annihilation of 350 Japanese troops. His inspiring conduct throughout the critical periods of this decisive action sustains.” Because of wounds received he was evacuated to the U.S. Naval Hospital, San Diego, where he remained until 16 October 1944.
Captain Wilson returned to duty as Commanding Officer, Company D, Marine Barracks, Camp Pendleton, California. In December 1944, he was transferred to Washington, D.C., where he served as Detachment Commander at the Marine Barracks. While in Washington he was presented the Medal of Honor by President Truman. He was promoted to major in March 1945.
He was the 26th Commandant of the Marine Corps, he was awarded the Medal of Honor, Defense Distinguished Service Medal w/ Bronze oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit w/ valor device & 2 award stars, Purple Heart w/ 2 award stars, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy Presidential Unit Citation w/ 1 service star, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ 3 service stars, World War II Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 service star, Vietnam Service Medal w/ 2 service stars, National Order of Vietnam, Officer degree Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/ palm & gold star, Korean Order of National Security Merit Gugseon Medal Philippine Legion of Honor,rank of Commander, Vietnam Gallantry Cross unit citation, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge. He retired from the USMC in 1979. He died on June 21, 2005, in Birmingham, Alabama, at the age of 85, and was buried in Arlington, Virginia.
