One central Iowa family lost three sons during World War II. Five of Clabe and Leora Wilson’s sons served. Only two came home.
Military Service of CEM Donald W. Wilson of Dexter and Minburn
1934-1937 USS Chicago (CA-29)
1937 – 1942 Plank-owner on the USS Yorktown (CV-5)
1941 – Neutrality Patrol, Atlantic
1942 – Battles of Coral Sea and Midway, where the Yorktown was sunk. Citation for salvage attempt, had to abandon ship twice.
1944-1946 – Plank-owner on the USS Hancock (CV-19)
Nearly every Naval battle in the Pacific until the end of the war, except when out of action after being attacked by a kamikaze
Medals
Navy Commendation Medal (Yorktown Salvage Attempt)
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 7 Stars
Philippine Liberation Medal
Philippine Defense Ribbon with 2 Stars
American Defense Service Medal with “A” and 1 Star
China Service Medal
Navy Occupation Service Medal
Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon
American Theater Medal
WW II Victory Medal
Navy Good Conduct Medal
*******
Military Service of E 1/c Delbert G. Wilson of Dexter, Minburn, and Perry
1934-1937 USS Chicago (CA-29)
1942-1943 USS Maumee (A0-2) – Convoy to North Africa, hurricane and muffler fire on the way back, oil runs to Aruba
1944-1945 Ran an Attack Teacher at Submarine School
Medals
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
American Campaign Medal
WWII Victory Medal
Navy Good Conduct Medal
*******
Military Service of 1Lt. Dale R. Wilson, Dexter and Minburn
1942-1943 USAAF Cadet Training
1943 – Commission and pilot wings. B-25 pilot
1943 – Combat with 823rd BS, 38th Bomb Group, 5th AF, 17-Mile Field, Port Moresby, New Guinea
1943 – MIA Nov. 27, off Wewak/Boram, New Guinea, with five others
1944 – Three people on the West Coast heard him named as a POW over Radio Tokyo
1946 – DOD (Declaration of Death) officially made
Medals
Purple Heart
Air Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
WWII Victory Medal
*******
Military Service of 1Lt. Daniel S. Wilson, Dexter and Minburn
1943-1944 USAAF Cadet Training
1944 – Commission and pilot wings. P-38 pilot
1944-1945 – Combat with 37th FS, 14th FG, 15th AF, Triolo, Italy
1945 – Feb. 19, MIA Schwanberg, Austria
1946 – Telegram that he had been KIA on the date he was reported MIA
Dan Wilson is buried at the Lorraine American Cemetery, St. Avold, France
Medals
Purple Heart
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
American Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
********
Military Service of F/O C. Junior Wilson, Dexter, Minburn, and Perry
1943-1944 USAAF Cadet Training
1944 – Rank of Flight Officer and pilot wings. P-40 pilot
1945 – Killed in training August 9 when the engine of his P-40N threw a rod and exploded in formation–the day the second atomic bomb was dropped. Near Victoria, Texas.
True heroes.
They were. I was surprised at how many Uncle Don’s added up to. And he was at sea when each of the three younger brothers were lost, and also their dad the fall of 1946.
It is so very sad, this outcome of war that leaves an enormous gap in the lives of those who loved these men.
It sure does. My mother never got over losing her brothers. Dale Wilson’s twin is still living. Aunt Darlene will be 98 next month!
So much history and sorrow.
I’d never put them all together before. Just one family.
That is a lot of “mettle” and medals in one family. Flying those planes was a very dangerous job!
Yes, it was. And if a bomber went down, it took 5-10 men with it. The Air Force was part of the Army then (Army Air Forces) so it’s hard to come up with statistics.
Incredible story. May these young men always be remembered. I can’t image being a gold star mom and the pain of owning this title three times😢
Then she was widowed in October 1946. It must have been really tough for her when I was too little to know, but she was a delightful grandmother.
Seeing those telegrams was truly heartbreaking.