William Hale Wilbur

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Colonel William Hale Wilbur, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Western Task Force, in action at Fedala, French Morocco, North Africa. Colonel Wilbur prepared the plan for making contact with French commanders in Casablanca and obtaining an armistice to prevent unnecessary bloodshed. On 8 November 1942, he landed at Fedala with the leading assault waves where opposition had developed into a firm and continuous defensive line across his route of advance. Commandeering a vehicle, he was driven toward the hostile defenses under incessant fire, finally locating a French officer who accorded him passage through the forward positions. He then proceeded in total darkness through 16 miles of enemy-occupied country intermittently subjected to heavy bursts of fire, and accomplished his mission by delivering his letters to appropriate French officials in Casablanca. Returning toward his command, Colonel Wilbur detected a hostile battery firing effectively on our troops. He took charge of a platoon of American tanks and personally led them in an attack and capture of the battery. From the moment of landing until the cessation of hostile resistance, Colonel Wilbur’s conduct was voluntary and exemplary in its coolness and daring.

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to William Hale Wilbur (0-59308), Second Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3d Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment (Infantry), 1st Cavalry Division. Second Lieutenant Wilbur distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces near Tabu-dong, Korea, on 3 September 1950. From the 28th of August 1950, when he joined the Eighth Cavalry Regiment, Lieutenant Wilbur continually volunteered for extra hazardous duties, leading several combat and reconnaissance patrols deep into enemy territory and securing important information as to enemy gun emplacements and troop dispositions. On the morning of 4 September 1950, Company I was given the mission of halting the enemy’s advance by cutting the road north of Tabu-dong, even though the village and terrain to their rear was held by the enemy. Realizing the necessity of clearing the enemy from the village, Lieutenant Wilbur volunteered to lead a thirty-man patrol into it. Although continually harassed by enemy small arms fire, he succeeded in clearing a sector. Then, despite the heavy enemy small arms and machine-gun fire, he aggressively led his patrol to the far side of the town where they successfully recovered and evaluated a seriously wounded man. While clearing out the remainder of the village, Lieutenant Wilbur skillfully directed his patrol in repelling an enemy attack, killing six. When the enemy, approximately seventy-five in number, launched a second attack and nearly overwhelmed his troops, he called for artillery fire upon his own position and broke up the hostile force, allowing his patrol to withdraw to his company’s position. His courage, initiative, and superior leadership were largely responsible for Company I successfully withstanding successive attacks of an enemy in vastly numerical strength over a period of three days. He constantly exposed himself to intense enemy fire, and on 5 September 1950, was mortally wounded.
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 14 (January 8, 1951)