Rank Insignia Previous Honoree ID Next Honoree ID


   
honoree image
First Name: Milford

Last Name: Wilson

Birthplace: Gattman, MS, USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Army (1784 - present)



Home of Record: Grenada County, MS
Middle Name: Winford



Date of Birth: 07 February 1920

Date of Death: 14 August 1944

Rank: Technical Sergeant

Years Served:
Milford Winford Wilson

   
Engagements:
•  World War II (1941 - 1945)

Biography:

Milford Winford Wilson
Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army

On 12 August 1944, then-Technical Sergeant Milford Winford Wilson was serving with an Infantry company of the 121st Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division, First U.S. Army, in the European Theater of Operations.

On that day, TSGT Wilson’s unit was in action during Operation Overlord against German forces in the vicinity of Rennes, France, after capturing the city on 8 August. The leading squad of TSGT Wilson's platoon was pinned down by withering German machine gun, small arms, anti-tank and grenade fire from concrete emplacements along a well-fortified line. Ignoring his severe wounds by shell fragments, TSGT Wilson personally directed his men to covered positions. Then, in a desperate attempt to divert the enemy's attention from his squad's withdrawal, TSGT Wilson boldly walked toward the Germans while firing his Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR). After moving only a few yards, TSGT Wilson was hit by a burst of fire from a machine gun and fatally wounded. TSGT Wilson’s courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day earned him, at the cost of his life, the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

TSGT Wilson died of his wounds on 14 August.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Arrowhead Pin and 2 Bronze Stars
World War II Victory Medal
Croix de Guerre with Bronze Star (France)
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Technical Sergeant Milford W. Wilson (ASN: 34134287), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with an Infantry Company of the 121st Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 12 August 1944, in France. On that date, the leading squad of Technical Sergeant Wilson's platoon was pinned down by withering machine gun, small arms, anti-tank and grenade fire from concrete emplacements along a well-fortified line. Severely wounded by shell fragments, Technical Sergeant Wilson, with great courage and utter disregard for his own life, personally directed his men to covered positions. In a desperate attempt to divert the enemy attention from his squad's withdrawal, he walked boldly toward the enemy firing his rifle. He had gone but a few yards when he was hit by a burst of fire from a machine gun and fatally wounded. Technical Sergeant Wilson's unflinching devotion to duty, valor and heroic leadership at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 8th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.

Headquarters, First U.S. Army, General Orders No. 84 (November 21, 1944)

Burial

Technical Sergeant Milford Winford Wilson is buried at the Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial in Saint-James, Departement de la Manche, Basse-Normandie, France, in Plot O, Row 5, Grave 4.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56351459/milford-winford-wilson



Honoree ID: 53929   Created by: MHOH

Ribbons


Medals


Badges


Honoree Photos

honoree imagehonoree imagehonoree image

honoree imagehonoree image

honoree image

Remembrances


Tributes