Louis H. Wilson

Louis H. Wilson Jr.
World War II Medal of Honor recipient 26th Commandant of the Marine Corps (1975—1979)
Born	(1920-02-11)February 11, 1920 Brandon, Mississippi, U.S.
Died	June 21, 2005(2005-06-21) (aged 85) Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
Buried at	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1941-1979
Rank	General
Unit	HQMC
Commands held	2nd Battalion, 5th Marines The Basic School 6th Marine Corps District I Marine Amphibious Force Commandant of the Marine Corps
Battles/wars	World War II *Battle of Guam Cold War Vietnam War
Awards	Medal of Honor Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit (3) Purple Heart (3)

General Louis Hugh Wilson Jr. (February 11, 1920 – June 21, 2005) was a World War II recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Guam, and 26th Commandant of the Marine Corps.

Wilson was born in Brandon, Mississippi. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1941 from Millsaps College, Jackson, Mississippi, where he participated in football and track. Wilson was also an active member of the Alpha Iota Chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, initiated on February 23, 1939.

Wilson enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in May 1941 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in November of that year. After attending officers’ basic training, he was assigned to the 9th Marine Regiment at Marine Corps Base, San Diego, California.

Lieutenant Wilson was deployed to the Pacific theater with the 9th Marines in February 1943, making stops at Guadalcanal, Efate, and Bougainville. He was promoted to Captain in April 1943. During the assault on Guam, on 25-July 26, 1944, while commanding Company F, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, Wilson earned the nation’s highest honor for heroism in combat when he and his company repelled and destroyed a numerically superior enemy force. Because of wounds received, he was evacuated to the U.S. Naval Hospital, San Diego, where he remained until October 16, 1944.