Alfred M. Wilson

Alfred Mac Wilson (January 13, 1948 – March 3, 1969) was a United States Marine who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for heroism in Vietnam in March 1969. While returning from a reconnaissance mission, Wilson's platoon was ambushed, and their machine gunner and assistant were wounded. While facing enemy fire to retrieve the weapon, an enemy hand grenade was thrown between Wilson and a fellow Marine. Wilson threw himself on the grenade, absorbing the full force of the blast, sacrificing his life to save another.

Alfred M. Wilson was born on January 13, 1948 in Olney, Illinois. He moved with his family to Odessa, Texas in 1950, and attended Burleson Elementary School, Crockett Junior High School, and graduated from Odessa Senior High School in 1967. He was active in football and track as well as the Distributive Education Club while in high school. His hobbies included shooting, hunting, fishing, football, and tennis.

He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve at Abilene, Texas on November 1, 1967, and was discharged to enlist in the Regular Marine Corps on January 14, 1968.

He underwent recruit training with the 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California. Upon completion of recruit training, in April 1968, he was transferred to Camp Pendleton, California, and completed individual combat training with Company D, 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry Training Regiment, in May, and basic infantry training in June. He was promoted to private first class on July 1, 1968.

Private First Class Wilson arrived in the Republic of Vietnam in July 1968, and was assigned duty as a rifleman with Company D, 1st Battalion, 27th Marines, 1st Marine Division. He served in this capacity until September 1968. He was later reassigned as a rifleman with Company M, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division.

Wilson was killed in action in the vicinity of Fire Support Base Cunningham, Quang Tri Province on March 3, 1969. While returning from a reconnaissance mission, Wilson's platoon was ambushed. While facing fire to retrieve the machine gun from the platoon's wounded machine gunner, an enemy hand grenade was thrown between Wilson and a fellow Marine. Wilson threw himself on the grenade, absorbing the full force of the blast, sacrificing his life. For these actions, Wilson was posthumously promoted to the rank of Corporal; and was awarded the Medal of Honor. He was buried in Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Odessa, Texas.

On April 20, 1970, his Medal of Honor was presented to his family by Vice President Spiro T. Agnew at the White House.

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to

for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

/S/ RICHARD M. NIXON

Wilson's medals and decorations include: the Medal of Honor, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Medal of Honor			Purple Heart
National Defense Service Medal		Vietnam Service Medal		Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Alfred M. Wilson's name is inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial ("The Wall") on Panel 30W Line 035.

The United States Post Office on Texas Avenue in Odessa, Texas was named in honor of Alfred M. Wilson by efforts of Congressman Mike Conaway and Senator John Cornyn.

In July 2015, Hood Junior High School in Odessa was renamed, Wison and Young Medal of Honor Middle School; In their honor.