Alfred L. Wilson

Alfred L. Wilson
Wilson in uniform, c. 1943
Born	(1919-09-18)September 18, 1919 Fairchance, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	November 8, 1944(1944-11-08) (aged 25) Near Bezange-la-Petite, France
Buried	Maple Grove Cemetery, Fairchance, Pennsylvania, U.S. 39°49′11.5″N 79°45′55.4″W
Branch	United States Army
Years of service	1943–1944
Rank	Technician 5th Grade
Service number	33429521
Unit	Medical Detachment, 328th Infantry, 26th Infantry Division
Campaigns	World War II Northern France Rhineland †
Awards	Medal of Honor Purple Heart

Technician 5th Grade Alfred Leonard Wilson (September 18, 1919 – November 8, 1944) was a United States Army soldier who received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during World War II.

Biography

Alfred Leonard Wilson joined the United States Army in March 1943 and by November 8, 1944, was serving as a Technician 5th Grade with the Medical Detachment of the 328th Infantry, 26th Infantry Division. During a firefight on that day, near Bezange-la-Petite, France, Wilson was severely wounded but refused evacuation and continued to treat other injured soldiers until he fell unconscious. He died of his wounds and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor seven months later, on June 18, 1945. Aged 25 at his death, Wilson was buried at Maple Grove Cemetery in Fairchance, Pennsylvania.

Medal of Honor citation

He volunteered to assist as an aid man a company other than his own, which was suffering casualties from constant artillery fire. He administered to the wounded and returned to his own company when a shellburst injured a number of its men. While treating his comrades he was seriously wounded, but refused to be evacuated by litter bearers sent to relieve him. In spite of great pain and loss of blood, he continued to administer first aid until he was too weak to stand. Crawling from one patient to another, he continued his work until excessive loss of blood prevented him from moving. He then verbally directed unskilled enlisted men in continuing the first aid for the wounded. Still refusing assistance himself, he remained to instruct others in dressing the wounds of his comrades until he was unable to speak above a whisper and finally lapsed into unconsciousness. The effects of his injury later caused his death. By steadfastly remaining at the scene without regard for his own safety, Cpl. Wilson through distinguished devotion to duty and personal sacrifice helped to save the lives of at least 10 wounded men.

Legacy

Wilson Barracks (German: Kirchberg-Kaserne), also known as Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, in Landstuhl, Germany, is named in honor of him.

See also

• List of Medal of Honor recipients
• List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II
• List of people from Pennsylvania

Notes

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.

External links

• Alfred L. Wilson at Find a Grave