WW2 Tinian Fallen - Medal of Honor hero Robert Wilson, 2nd Marine Division

PFC Robert Wilson, 2nd Marine Division, was posthumously award the Medal of Honor at Tinian.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_L._Wilson
https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-C-Tinian/index.html

Robert L. Wilson never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

If you have enjoyed reading the stories of the WW2 fallen, Can you help write some stories? It's a big project. The more help, the better.  Announcing "The Stories Behind the Stars", see https://www.storiesbehindthestars.org. This crowd-sourced national project has the goal of compiling stories of all 400,000+ of the US World War 2 fallen in one free-to-access central database.  Anyone visiting a war memorial or gravesite will be able to scan the name of the fallen with a smartphone and his story will appear on the phone.

He was born on May 21, 1920 in Centralia, Illinois. His parents Joseph and Anna had seven other children. His father worked as an oil field worker. Robert grew up on the family farm.

He volunteered for the US Marines in September 1941. He became a private first class in the 1st Marine Division and later the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. The 2nd MD saw action at Guadalcanal, Tarawa, and Saipan. PFC Wilson was wounded at the Battle of Tarawa but was back with his unit in time for the Battle of Tinian which lasted from July 24 to August 1, 1944.

Although the Battle of Tinian had officially ended, there were still pockets of Japanese refusing to surrender. PFC Wilson was killed on August 3, 1944 when he threw himself on a grenade in order to shield the other men in his squad from being killed or wounded. He was posthumously recognized with the Medal of Honor.

His citation reads as follows:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the Second Battalion, Sixth Marines, Second Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on Tinian Island, Marianas Group, on August 3, 1944. 

As one of a group of Marines advancing through heavy underbrush to neutralize isolated points of resistance, Private First Class Wilson daringly preceded his companions toward a pile of rocks where Japanese troops were supposed to be hiding. Fully aware of the danger involved, he was moving forward while the remainder of the squad armed with automatic rifles closed together in the rear, when an enemy grenade landed in the midst of the group. Quick to act, Private First Class Wilson cried a warning to the men and unhesitatingly threw himself on the grenade, heroically sacrificing his own life so that the others might live and fulfill their mission. 

His exceptional valor, courageous loyalty and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave peril reflect the highest credit upon Private First Class Wilson and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

His grave is at Hillcrest Cemetery in Centralia, Illinois.

The destroyer USS Robert Wilson was named in his honor and launched in January 1945 It was in service until 1974.

Thank you PFC Wilson for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Robert.

Last year on this date I profiled Helldiver pilot Vernon Reynolds. You can read about Vernon here.

On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!

I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.

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