PRIVATE FIRST CLASS
ALFRED M. WILSON, USMC (DECEASED) 

 

Medal of Honor Citation

Alfred M. Wilson, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in Vietnam in March 1969, was born 13 January 1948, in Olney, Illinois. He moved with his family to Odessa, Texas, in 1950, and attended Burleson Elementary School, Crockett Junior High School, and graduated from Odessa Senior High School in 1967. 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.

He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve at Abilene, Texas, 1 November 1967, and was discharged to enlist in the Regular Marine Corps, 14 January 1968.

He underwent recruit training with the 3d 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, 2d Infantry Training Regiment, in May, and basic infantry training in June. He was promoted to private first class, 1 July 1968.

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. Reassigned as a rifleman with Company M, 3d Battalion, 9th Marines, 3d Marine Division, he was killed in action in the vicinity of Fire Support Base, Cunningham, Quang Tri Province, on 3 March 1969.

A complete list of his 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.

 

Vietnam War 1965-1973 Medal of Honor