Retired Police Officer, Veteran Advocate, Documentary Film Producer & Author of the books, "The Giant Killer" and "Giant Killers, War Heroes & Special Forces Legends"
U.S. Marine Corps Medal of Honor Recipient Alfred Wilson: On March 3, 1969, While returning from a recon mission, Pfc. Wilson's platoon came under intense automatic-weapons fire and a grenade attack from a well-concealed enemy force. As the center of the column was pinned down, the leading squad moved to outflank the enemy. Pfc. Wilson, acting as squad leader of the rear squad, skillfully maneuvered his men to form a base of fire and act as a blocking force. In the ensuing firefight, both his machine gunner and assistant machine gunner were seriously wounded and unable to operate their weapons. Realizing the urgent need to bring the weapon into operation again, Pfc. Wilson, followed by another marine and with complete disregard for his safety, fearlessly dashed across the fire-swept terrain to recover the weapon. As they reached the machine gun, an enemy soldier stepped from behind a tree and threw a grenade toward the two marines. Observing the grenade fall between himself and the other marine, Pfc. Wilson, fully realizing the inevitable result of his action, shouted to his companion and unhesitating threw himself on the grenade, absorbing the full force of the explosion with his own body and was tragically killed. His heroic actions inspired his platoon members to maximum effort as they aggressively attacked and defeated the enemy. #USMarines #USMC #USMilitary #History