Norman E. Wilson

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Norman E. Wilson (US56111054), Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company M, 3d Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment (Infantry), 1st Cavalry Division. Private First Class Wilson distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Tokchol-li, Korea, on 6 September 1951. On that date, the friendly forces were occupying a patrol base that had been surrounded and was undergoing an attack by elements of three enemy regiments. Although wounded in the initial assault, Private Wilson refused medical aid and steadfastly remained at his post, delivering a devastating volume of machine-gun fire into the charging enemy’s ranks. During lulls in the attack, he fearlessly exposed himself to heavy enemy mortar and artillery fire to obtain re-supplies of ammunition for his weapon. Although wounded twice more by small-arms fire, Private Wilson still refused to be evacuated, and when his platoon executed a limited withdrawal, he voluntarily remained in his position to cover his comrades as they fell back. At this time he noticed three friendly riflemen in an isolated position. Immediately, he attracted the attention of the hostile force and by causing the enemy fire to be concentrated on him, enabled the three men to crawl to safety. In this action, Private Wilson succeeded in neutralizing two hostile automatic-weapons and killing approximately twenty-five enemy soldiers.
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 772 (October 16, 1951)