Alfred M. Wilson

He covered a live grenade to save the Marine fighting nearby

Alfred Mac Wilson was born in Olney, Illinois, on 13 January 1948 and grew up in Odessa, Texas. Known as Mac, he played school football and ran track, graduating from Odessa Senior High School in 1967. He enlisted in November that year and reached Vietnam in July 1968. By September he was serving with Company M, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division.

On 3 March 1969 his platoon was returning from a reconnaissance mission near Fire Support Base Cunningham in Quang Tri Province when concealed enemy troops attacked. Acting as leader of the rear squad, Wilson organized a supporting position. When the machine gunner and assistant were wounded, he and another Marine ran forward to recover their weapon.

An enemy soldier threw a grenade between them. Wilson warned his companion and covered it with his body, sacrificing himself. The platoon subsequently overcame the attackers. He was 21. His remains were returned to Odessa for burial. Vice President Spiro Agnew presented the posthumous Medal of Honor to his father and sister at the White House on 20 April 1970.

Official Medal of Honor citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a rifleman with Company M in action against hostile forces. While returning from a reconnaissance-in-force mission in the vicinity of Fire Support Base Cunningham, the 1st Platoon of Company M came under intense automatic-weapons fire and a grenade attack from a well-concealed enemy force. As the center of the column was pinned down, the leading squad moved to outflank the enemy. Pfc. Wilson, acting as squad leader of the rear squad, skillfully maneuvered his men to form a base of fire and act as a blocking force. In the ensuing firefight, both his machine gunner and assistant machine gunner were seriously wounded and unable to operate their weapons. Realizing the urgent need to bring the weapon into operation again, Pfc. Wilson, followed by another marine and with complete disregard for his safety, fearlessly dashed across the fire-swept terrain to recover the weapon. As they reached the machine gun, an enemy soldier stepped from behind a tree and threw a grenade toward the two marines. Observing the grenade fall between himself and the other marine, Pfc. Wilson, fully realizing the inevitable result of his action, shouted to his companion and unhesitating threw himself on the grenade, absorbing the full force of the explosion with his own body. His heroic actions inspired his platoon members to maximum effort as they aggressively attacked and defeated the enemy. Pfc. Wilson's indomitable courage, inspiring valor, and selfless devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.