Benjamin F. Wilson
Major, U.S. Army
Medal of Honor Recipient
Korean War

Benjamin F. Wilson was born on 2 June 1921 at Vashon, WA. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in the summer of 1940 and was stationed at Schofield Barracks, HI, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. He went to Officer Candidate School (OCS) in 1942 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry. Although he repeatedly volunteered for combat duty during World War II, he remained assigned as a state-side training officer. When the war was over, he resigned his commission and went home.

His departure was only temporary. He liked the Army much better than Washington's lumber mills and was back in uniform nine months later. Because the Army was thinning its officer ranks and had no room for an experienced lieutenant, he enlisted as a Private. He rose quickly through the ranks and had been promoted to Master Sergeant by the summer of 1951 and was serving with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, in South Korea.

On 5 June 1951, Company I was committed to attack and secure commanding terrain overlooking the Hwachon Reservoir (later dubbed "Hell Hill") stubbornly defended by a numerically-superior hostile force in well-fortified positions. When the spearheading element was pinned down by withering hostile fire, then-Master Sergeant Wilson dashed forward and, firing his rifle and throwing grenades, neutralized the position, stopped the advance, and killed four enemy soldiers manning submachine guns. After the assault platoon moved up, occupied the position, and a base of fire was established, he led a bayonet attack that killed about 27 hostile soldiers. While friendly forces were consolidating the newly-won gain, the enemy launched a counterattack and MSG Wilson, realizing the imminent threat of being overrun, made a lone-man charge, killing seven and wounding two of the enemy, and routing the remainder in disorder. After the position was organized, he led an assault that moved within about 15 yards of the final objective before enemy fire halted the advance. He ordered the platoon to withdraw and, although wounded in this action, remained to provide covering fire. During an ensuing counterattack, the commanding officer and 1st Platoon leader became casualties. Unhesitatingly, MSG Wilson charged the enemy ranks and killed three enemy soldiers with his rifle before it was wrested from his hands. He then killed four others with his entrenching tool. His delaying action enabled his comrades to reorganize and effect an orderly withdrawal. While directing evacuation of the wounded, he suffered a second wound. When his stretcher-bearers set him down to rest, MSG Wilson in obvious pain, arose from the stretcher and trudged back up the Hill without a word. No one could tell him he did not belong there. Everyone understood that he would rather stay with his Company than suffer the indignity of being carried to an aid station. He refused treatment until assured that all of the men had reached safety. MSG Wilson's sustained valor and selfless actions earned him the Army's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor.

Four days later, on 9 June, MSG Wilson's Company I was advancing against heavily fortified enemy hill positions when a heavy volume of small-arms and automatic-weapons fire forced the men to seek cover. MSG Wilson single-handedly charged forward against the enemy emplacements, firing his rifle rapidly and pitching grenades, so the men could extricate themselves from their untenable positions. Completely exposed to the concentrated fire of the enemy, he succeeded in killing four of the enemy and in neutralizing a hostile bunker. His heroic actions so inspired his men that they renewed their assault and secured the objective. Immediately, the enemy launched a fierce counterattack against the newly-gained positions and MSG Wilson once more left his position and engaged them at extremely close range. He personally killed five of the attacking enemy and laid down such a devastating volume of fire that the remainder were forced to withdraw after suffering heavy losses. During this action he reopened the wounds he suffered four days earlier and was finally evacuated to a hospital. He was again recommended for the Medal of Honor, but Army policy now prohibits any man from being awarded more than one. Instead, MSG Wilson was awarded the Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross. He was also re-commissioned as a First Lieutenant when he returned to the United States.

Wilson retired from the Army as a Major in 1960.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Medal of Honor
Distinguished Service Cross
Bronze Star Medal (Merit)
Purple Heart with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Army Good Conduct Medal
American Defense Service Medal
Army of Occupation Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Army Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Combat Infantryman Badge
Parachutist Badge

Medal of Honor Citation

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Benjamin F. Wilson, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and indomitable courage above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company I, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, in action against enemy aggressor forces at Hwach'on-Myon, Korea, on 5 June 1951. Company I was committed to attack and secure commanding terrain stubbornly defended by a numerically superior hostile force emplaced in well-fortified positions. When the spearheading element was pinned down by withering hostile fire, First Lieutenant Wilson dashed forward and, firing his rifle and throwing grenades, neutralized the position denying the advance and killed four enemy soldiers manning submachine guns. After the assault platoon moved up, occupied the position, and a base of fire was established, he led a bayonet attack which reduced the objective and killed approximately 27 hostile soldiers. While friendly forces were consolidating the newly won gain, the enemy launched a counterattack and First Lieutenant Wilson, realizing the imminent threat of being overrun, made a determined lone-man charge, killing seven and wounding two of the enemy, and routing the remainder in disorder. After the position was organized, he led an assault carrying to approximately 15 yards of the final objective, when enemy fire halted the advance. He ordered the platoon to withdraw and, although painfully wounded in this action, remained to provide covering fire. During an ensuing counterattack, the commanding officer and 1st Platoon leader became casualties. Unhesitatingly, First Lieutenant Wilson charged the enemy ranks and fought valiantly, killing three enemy soldiers with his rifle before it was wrested from his hands, and annihilating four others with his entrenching tool. His courageous delaying action enabled his comrades to reorganize and effect an orderly withdrawal. While directing evacuation of the wounded, he suffered a second wound, but elected to remain on the position until assured that all of the men had reached safety. First Lieutenant Wilson's sustained valor and intrepid actions reflect utmost credit upon himself and uphold the honored traditions of the military service.

General Orders: Department of the Army, General Orders No. 69 (September 23, 1954)

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Master Sergeant Benjamin F. Wilson, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company I, 3d Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. Master Sergeant Wilson distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Nodong-ni, Korea, on 9 June 1951. On that date, Sergeant Wilson's company was advancing against heavily fortified enemy hill positions when a sudden and heavy volume of small-arms and automatic-weapons fire forced the men to seek cover. Sergeant Wilson, realizing the need for immediate and aggressive action so that the men could extricate themselves from their untenable positions, charged forward against the enemy emplacements single-handedly, firing his rifle rapidly and pitching grenades. Completely exposed to the concentrated fire of the enemy, he nevertheless succeeded in killing four of the enemy and in neutralizing a hostile bunker. His heroic actions so inspired his men that they renewed their assault and secured the objective. Immediately, the enemy launched a fierce counterattack against the newly gained positions and Sergeant Wilson once more left his position and engaged them at extremely close range. He personally killed five of the attacking enemy and laid down such a devastating volume of fire that the remainder were forced to withdraw after suffering heavy losses.

General Orders: Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 694 (September 12, 1951)

Death and Burial

Major Benjamin F. Wilson died on 1 March 1988 in Hawaii. He is buried at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Honolulu County, HI, in Section A, Grave 1060-A.

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