Medal of Honor: Louis Hugh Wilson, Jr.– World War II, July 25–26, 1944

Louis Hugh Wilson, Jr.
Rank: Captain
Conflict: World War II
Unit: Rifle Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division
Date of Action: July 25–26, 1944
Location: Fonte Hill, Guam, Mariana Islands

Summary of Action:
Atop the rugged heights of Fonte Hill on the island of Guam, Captain Louis H. Wilson Jr. embodied the unbreakable spirit of the United States Marine Corps. On July 25, 1944, Wilson led his rifle company into a brutal uphill assault against a heavily fortified Japanese position. Despite withering machine gun and rifle fire, he seized the objective after a 300-yard push over open terrain. As darkness fell, he took command of nearby disorganized units and equipment, organizing a defensive perimeter under constant enemy pressure—refusing evacuation despite being wounded three times.

That night, the Japanese launched relentless counterattacks, hammering his lines with fanatical determination. Captain Wilson, bleeding and exhausted, returned to the front, personally rallying his men and braving incoming fire to rescue a wounded Marine stranded in no-man’s land. For ten grueling hours, Wilson led from the front, engaging in hand-to-hand combat and directing fire with unshakable resolve.

At dawn, understanding the tactical necessity of seizing a nearby slope, Wilson gathered a 17-man patrol and attacked once more through mortar, machine gun, and rifle fire. Thirteen of his men fell in the assault—but Wilson and the few remaining survivors captured the vital ground. By morning, over 350 enemy dead lay around his position, the tide of the battle turned by one man’s fierce determination, courage, and battlefield leadership.

Medal of Honor Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of a rifle company attached to the 2d Battalion, 9th Marines, 3d Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces at Fonte Hill, Guam, 25–26 July 1944.

Ordered to take that portion of the hill within his zone of action, Capt. Wilson initiated his attack in mid-afternoon, pushed up the rugged, open terrain against terrific machinegun and rifle fire for 300 yards and successfully captured the objective. Promptly assuming command of other disorganized units and motorized equipment in addition to his own company and 1 reinforcing platoon, he organized his night defenses in the face of continuous hostile fire and, although wounded 3 times during this 5-hour period, completed his disposition of men and guns before retiring to the company command post for medical attention.

Shortly thereafter, when the enemy launched the first of a series of savage counterattacks lasting all night, he voluntarily rejoined his besieged units and repeatedly exposed himself to the merciless hail of shrapnel and bullets, dashing 50 yards into the open on one occasion to rescue a wounded Marine lying helpless beyond the frontlines. Fighting fiercely in hand-to-hand encounters, he led his men in furiously waged battle for approximately 10 hours, tenaciously holding his line and repelling the fanatically renewed counterthrusts until he succeeded in crushing the last efforts of the hard-pressed Japanese early the following morning.

Then organizing a 17-man patrol, he immediately advanced upon a strategic slope essential to the security of his position and, boldly defying intense mortar, machinegun, and rifle fire which struck down 13 of his men, drove relentlessly forward with the remnants of his patrol to seize the vital ground.

By his indomitable leadership, daring combat tactics, and valor in the face of overwhelming odds, Capt. Wilson succeeded in capturing and holding the strategic high ground in his regimental sector, thereby contributing essentially to the success of his regimental mission and to the annihilation of 350 Japanese troops. His inspiring conduct throughout the critical periods of this decisive action sustains and enhances the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.