Honoring Veterans: Army Veteran Benjamin F. Wilson

Benjamin Franklin Wilson was born on Vashon Island, Washington, in June 1921. His longing for adventure is what led him to the military after dropping out of school during his senior year.

Wilson enlisted in the Army in January 1940. He was stationed in Hawaii during Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, and applied to Officer Candidate School (OCS) following the attack. He completed OCS at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1943. Wilson remained in the United States throughout World War II, where he served in training roles.

After resigning from his commission in 1945, Wilson tried to re-enter the Army but was denied due to its abundance of officers. Consequently, he re-enlisted as a private. In 1951, he completed airborne training, rising to the rank of master sergeant in the 31st Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. 

Wilson’s division was assigned to fight in Korea in 1951. In June of that year, his company was ordered to capture a hill near the Hwacheon Reservoir, later referred to as “Hell Hill.” During the attack, the company came under heavy fire from the entrenched enemy. Seeing his unit pinned down, he charged into the enemy position while firing his rifle and throwing grenades, killing four enemies that were firing automatic weapons. This action allowed his platoon to move up and occupy the enemy position.

Next, Wilson led his men on a bayonet charge that killed 27 enemies and secured the unit’s initial objective. A counterattack ensued in which Wilson, realizing the threat of being overrun, made a lone bayonet charge that stopped the attackers. After his unit’s position was organized, he led another assault to capture the rest of the hill.

Despite coming within 15 yards of the final objective, the advance was halted by the entrenched enemy and the platoon was forced to withdraw. Wilson was injured and put on a medical stretcher during the fight, but would get up to provide covering fire for the evacuating Americans and fight hand-to-hand in another counterattack to delay the enemy advance. Though he sustained two wounds during the battle, he refused medical assistance and remained on the position to direct the evacuation, an effort which enabled his platoon to safely withdraw.

In November 1951, Wilson was commissioned as a second lieutenant. He served as an officer for the remainder of his military career, rising to the rank of major. He retired in October 1960.

On Sept. 7, 1954, President Eisenhower awarded Wilson a Medal of Honor for his actions at Hwacheon. He was also awarded a Distinguished Service Cross for separate actions at Nodong-ni, as well as two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star. In addition, the Joint Base Lewis McChord fitness center on Lewis North in Washington is named in his honor.

Wilson died in Hawaii in 1988 at the age of 66, and he is buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu.

We honor his service.

Nominate a Veteran for Honoring Veterans

Do you want to light up the face of a special Veteran? Have you been wondering how to tell your Veteran they are special to you? VA’s Honoring Veterans social media feature is an opportunity to highlight your Veteran and his/her service.

It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. All it takes is an email to newmedia@va.gov with as much information as you can put together, along with some good photos. Visit our blog post about nominating to learn how to create the best submission.

Writer: William Beterbide

Editors: Lillian Williams, Ethan Oleson

Researcher: Charmonie Baugh, Kelsey Burchard

Graphic Designer: William Vega