Medal of Honor: Harold E. Wilson – Korean War – April 23–24, 1951

Name: Harold E. Wilson
Rank: Technical Sergeant
Branch: U.S. Marine Corps Reserve
War: Korean War
Unit: Company G, 3d Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division (Reinforced)
Date of Action: April 23–24, 1951
Location: Korea

Summary of Action

On the night of 23–24 April 1951, Technical Sergeant Harold E. Wilson distinguished himself while serving as platoon sergeant of a rifle platoon attached to Company G in Korea.

Enemy forces launched a fierce night assault from high ground under cover of darkness.

Mortars, machine guns, grenades, and small-arms fire struck the Marine positions, and the company outpost was overrun.

Wilson’s platoon, fighting from hastily dug foxholes, absorbed the brunt of the attack.

Ignoring the intense fire, Wilson moved out to help survivors withdraw back into the line and directed treatment for the wounded.

He was shot twice—in the right arm and left leg—but refused medical aid.

Instead, he continued moving among his Marines, shouting encouragement and steadying the defense.

As the attack intensified, he suffered additional wounds to the head and shoulder.

Again, he refused evacuation.

Unable to use either arm to fire a weapon, Wilson adapted immediately.

He resupplied his men with rifles and ammunition taken from the wounded.

Several times he personally crossed the battlefield to report to his company commander and request reinforcements.

When help arrived, Wilson placed the new men in key defensive positions and directed their fire.

A hostile mortar shell then exploded directly in his face, blowing him off his feet.

Dazed, concussed, and weakened by blood loss, he still refused treatment.

He continued moving from foxhole to foxhole, directing fire, distributing ammunition, rendering first aid, and encouraging exhausted Marines.

His presence inspired the platoon to rally repeatedly and turn back wave after wave of enemy assaults.

At dawn, after the final attack had been repulsed, Wilson personally accounted for every man in his platoon.

Only then did he walk unassisted half a mile to the aid station and submit to treatment.

Through unmatched courage, leadership, and refusal to yield under overwhelming odds, Harold E. Wilson reflected the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

Medal of Honor Citation

WILSON, HAROLD E.

For gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as platoon sergeant of a rifle platoon attached to Company G, in action against enemy aggressor forces on the night of 23-24 April 1951. When the company outpost was overrun by the enemy while his platoon, firing from hastily constructed foxholes, was engaged in resisting the brunt of a fierce mortar, machine gun, grenade, and small-arms attack launched by hostile forces from high ground under cover of darkness, T/Sgt. Wilson braved intense fire to assist the survivors back into the line and to direct the treatment of casualties. Although twice wounded by gunfire, in the right arm and the left leg, he refused medical aid for himself and continued to move about among his men, shouting words of encouragement. After receiving further wounds in the head and shoulder as the attack increased in intensity, he again insisted upon remaining with his unit. Unable to use either arm to fire, and with mounting casualties among our forces, he resupplied his men with rifles and ammunition taken from the wounded. Personally reporting to his company commander on several occasions, he requested and received additional assistance when the enemy attack became even more fierce and, after placing the reinforcements in strategic positions in the line, directed effective fire until blown off his feet by the bursting of a hostile mortar round in his face. Dazed and suffering from concussion, he still refused medical aid and, despite weakness from loss of blood, moved from foxhole to foxhole, directing fire, resupplying ammunition, rendering first aid, and encouraging his men. By his heroic actions in the face of almost certain death, when the unit’s ability to hold the disadvantageous position was doubtful, he instilled confidence in his troops, inspiring them to rally repeatedly and turn back the furious assaults. At dawn, after the final attack had been repulsed, he personally accounted for each man in his platoon before walking unassisted 1/2 mile to the aid station where he submitted to treatment. His outstanding courage, initiative, and skilled leadership in the face of overwhelming odds were contributing factors in the success of his company’s mission and reflect the highest credit upon T/Sgt. Wilson and the U.S. Naval Service.