Alfred Mac Wilson
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![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/Wilson_AM.jpg/220px-Wilson_AM.jpg) Alfred M. Wilson, posthumous Medal of Honor recipient
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Nickname(s)
| "Mac"
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Born
| (
1948-01-13
)
January 13, 1948
Olney, Illinois
, US
|
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Died
| March 3, 1969
(1969-03-03)
(aged 21)
near
Firebase Cunningham
,
Quang Tri Province
,
Republic of Vietnam
|
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Allegiance
| United States
|
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Service/
branch
| United States Marine Corps
|
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Years of service
| 1967?1969
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Rank
| Private First Class
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Unit
| Company M,
3rd Battalion, 9th Marines
,
3rd Marine Division
|
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Battles/wars
| Vietnam War
|
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Awards
| Medal of Honor
Purple Heart
|
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Alfred Mac Wilson
(January 13, 1948 – March 3, 1969) was a
United States Marine
who
posthumously
received the
Medal of Honor
for heroism in Vietnam in March 1969.
While returning from a reconnaissance mission during
Operation Dewey Canyon
, Wilson's platoon was ambushed, and their machine gunner and assistant were wounded. While facing enemy fire to retrieve the weapon, an enemy
hand grenade
was thrown between Wilson and a fellow Marine. Wilson threw himself on the grenade, absorbing the full force of the blast, sacrificing his life to save another.
Early life
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]
Alfred M. Wilson was born on January 13, 1948, in
Olney, Illinois
. He moved with his family to
Odessa, Texas
, in 1950 and attended Burleson Elementary School and Crockett Junior High School and in 1967 graduated from
Odessa Senior High School
. He was active in football and track as well as the Distributive Education Club while in high school. His hobbies included shooting, hunting, fishing, football, and tennis.
[1]
Military service
[
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]
He enlisted in the
United States Marine Corps Reserve
at
Abilene, Texas
, on November 1, 1967, and was discharged to enlist in the
Regular Marine Corps
on January 14, 1968.
He underwent
recruit training
with the 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment,
Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego
, California. Upon completion of recruit training, in April 1968, he was transferred to
Camp Pendleton
, California, and completed individual combat training with Company D, 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry Training Regiment, in May, and basic
infantry
training in June. He was promoted to private first class on July 1, 1968.
[1]
Private First Class Wilson arrived in the
Republic of Vietnam
in July 1968, and was assigned duty as a
rifleman
with Company D,
1st Battalion, 27th Marines
,
1st Marine Division
. He served in this capacity until September 1968. He was later reassigned as a rifleman with Company M,
3rd Battalion, 9th Marines
,
3rd Marine Division
.
[1]
Wilson was
killed in action
in the vicinity of
Fire Support Base Cunningham
, Quang Tri Province on March 3, 1969. While returning from a reconnaissance mission, Wilson's platoon was ambushed. While facing fire to retrieve the machine gun from the platoon's wounded machine gunner, an enemy
hand grenade
was thrown between Wilson and a fellow Marine. Wilson threw himself on the grenade, absorbing the full force of the blast, sacrificing his life.
[1]
For these actions, Wilson was
posthumously
promoted to the rank of Corporal; and was awarded the Medal of Honor.
[2]
On April 20, 1970, his Medal of Honor was presented to his family by Vice President
Spiro T. Agnew
at the
White House
.
[3]
Medal of Honor citation
[
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]
The
President of the United States
takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS ALFRED M. WILSON
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
for service as set forth in the following CITATION:
[4]
- For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Rifleman with Company M, Third Battalion, Ninth Marines, Third Marine Division in action against hostile forces in the
Republic of Vietnam
. On March 3, 1969, while returning from a reconnaissance in force mission in the vicinity of Fire Support Base Cunningham in Quang Tri Province, the First Platoon of Company M came under intense
automatic weapons
fire and a grenade attack from a well-concealed
North Vietnamese Army
force pinning down the center of the column. Rapidly assessing the situation, Private First Class Wilson, acting as Squad Leader, skillfully maneuvered his squad to form a base of fire and act as a blocking force while the point squad moved to outflank the enemy. During the ensuing fire fight, both his
machine gunner
and assistant machine gunner were seriously wounded and unable to operate their weapon. Realizing the importance of recovering the
M-60 machine gun
and maintaining a heavy volume of fire against the hostile force, Private First Class Wilson, with complete disregard for his own safety, followed by another Marine, fearlessly dashed across the fire-swept terrain to recover the weapon. As they reached the machine gun, a North Vietnamese soldier threw a grenade at the Marine. Reacting instantly, Private First Class Wilson fired a burst from his
M-16 rifle
killing the enemy soldier. Observing the grenade fall between himself and the other Marine, Private First Class Wilson, fully realizing the inevitable result of his actions, shouted to his companion and unhesitatingly threw himself on the grenade, absorbing the full force of the explosion with his own body. His heroic actions inspired his platoon members to maximum effort as they aggressively attacked and defeated the enemy. Private First Class Wilson's indomitable courage, inspiring valor and selfless devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the
United States Naval Service
. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
/S/
RICHARD M. NIXON
Medals and decorations
[
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]
Wilson's medals and decorations include: the Medal of Honor, the
Purple Heart
, the
National Defense Service Medal
, the
Vietnam Service Medal
, and the
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
.
[1]
Memorials
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]
Alfred M. Wilson's name is inscribed on the
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
("The Wall") on Panel 30W Line 035.
[5]
The United States Post Office on Texas Avenue in Odessa, Texas, was named in honor of Alfred M. Wilson by efforts of Congressman Mike Conaway and Senator
John Cornyn
.
In July 2015, Hood Junior High School in Odessa was renamed, Wilson and Young Medal of Honor Middle School; In their honor.
See also
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References
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]
Inline
General
This article incorporates
public domain material
from websites or documents of the
United States Marine Corps
.
External links
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]