[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 110 (Monday, September 18, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1500]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  A TRIBUTE TO PRIVATE FIRST CLASS RICHARD WILSON OF CAPE GIRARDEAU, 
                                MISSOURI

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JO ANN EMERSON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 18, 2000

  Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, PFC Wilson's biography reminds us who 
fights our nation's wars. They are men and women, from all walks of 
life, who answer the call to service and, in too many cases, make the 
ultimate sacrifice.
  Richard Wilson grew up in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, in a family of 
seven children. He was a good student, a Boy Scout, a football talent, 
and a Golden Gloves boxer. He took an interest in military service and 
sought to enlist as soon as he could. On August 19, 1948, on his 
seventeenth birthday, he enlisted in the Army. Shortly thereafter, he 
reported to Fort Sam Houston for medical training. He subsequently 
volunteered for airborne school and reported to Fort Benning, Georgia 
for training. He was then assigned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky in a 
medical company of the 11th Airborne Division.
  In June of 1950, war broke out in Korea. By late July, Wilson's unit 
was on alert to deploy to Korea. A final weekend at home on the Fourth 
of July was his family's last time with him. However, Richard Wilson 
wanted to marry his sweetheart before he shipped out for the Pacific. 
So, on August 28, 1950, three days before his departure, PFC Wilson 
married his sweetheart, Bonnie. He pulled duty during the day and 
shared a guest cottage at night until his unit shipped out. Bonnie was 
present to bid him farewell as his train pulled out.
  Shortly after the Allied landings at Inchon and the liberation of 
Seoul, Wilson's unit arrived in Korea. His regiment participated in one 
of the largest airdrops in history on October 20, 1950.
  The 187th regimental combat team, of which he was a part, dropped 
behind enemy lines, 30 miles north of Pyongyang to cut-off retreating 
North Korean Army units. It was a beautiful fall day as they made their 
landings among rice paddies and took up positions to block retreating 
enemy units. The afternoon and night of October 20 were quiet. The next 
day, however, Wilson's unit came under heavy fire from a vastly 
superior enemy determined to break through and escape to the north.
  The 187th regimental combat team's mission was to ensure the high 
ground north of the town of Opari. On the morning of October 21, 1950, 
as the unit conducted a reconnaissance in force, it was flanked on 
three sides and forced to withdraw after sustaining heavy casualties. 
During this action, PFC Wilson rendered life-saving aid to numerous 
casualties. As his unit prepared to withdraw further, Wilson noticed 
that one casualty that had been presumed dead was still alive. Despite 
the orders to withdraw further, Wilson moved to aid and comfort the 
casualty. As he administered morphine and prepared to dress the 
casualty's wounds, he was killed by point blank enemy fire. On August 
2, 1951, his widow was presented with the Medal of Honor by General 
Omar Bradley, in recognition of PFC Richard G. Wilson's conspicuous 
gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty.
  PFC Wilson volunteered to serve his country. He did so honorably. He 
came to us as a product of a principled family with strong values. He 
made remarkable contributions to the proud legacy of Army medicine. He 
bore great burdens with dedication and selflessness. And he was taken 
from us too soon.

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