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31 Jul 2004
Ray Gene lived in Odessa, Texas and attended school here. He is remembered on the
Permian Basin Vietnam Veterans' Memorial
located at Midland, Texas International Airport. May his sacrifice never be forgotten.
Ray Gene Wilson is buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Hugo, Oklahoma. He was awarded the Silver Star posthumously for the actions that cost him his life.
From a PBVVM representative,
Billy M. Brown
4015 Melody Lane, Odessa, Texas 79762
bmbrown@grandecom.net
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
Headquarters, 1st Infantry Division
APO San Francisco 96345
25 March 1969
GENERAL ORDERS
NUMBER 2064
AWARD OF THE SILVER STAR
1. TC 320. The following AWARD is announced posthumously.
WILSON, RAY G US54669934 PRIVATE FIRST CLASS United States Army
Company D 2d Battalion 18th Infantry
| Awarded: |
Silver Star |
| Date action: |
23 February 1969 |
| Theater: |
Republic of Vietnam |
| Reason: |
For gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam: On this date, Private First Class Wilson was serving as a radio-telephone operator with his platoon on a night ambush near the village of Phouc Bien II. At approximately 0300 hours, he detected seven Viet Cong within 50 meters of his ambush site. During the ensuing firefight, Private First Class Wilson maneuvered through a hail of hostile rounds with his platoon leader and maintained constant communications with the friendly elements. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Private First Class Wilson proceeded to a forward position and put forth devastating fire with his automatic rifle which killed one insurgent. Realizing that illumination was imperative to expose the enemy locations, he braved the aggressor barrage and fired hand flares until he was mortally wounded. His selfish courage, professionalism, and perseverance significantly contributed to the success of the engagement. Private First Class Wilson's unquestionable valor in close combat against numerically superior hostile forces is in keeping with finest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division, and the United States Army.
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| Authority: |
By direction of the President, as established by the Act of Congress, 9 July 1918, and USARV Message 16695, dated 1 July 1966.
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FOR THE COMMANDER:
Chief of Staff
OFFICIAL:
Adjutant General
Transcribed by Billy M. Brown from the Citation received December 2006
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