Paul Wilson

## Paul Wilson, Hero of Alabama.

Wilson in 2023.

**Paul Micheal Wilson** (born October 19, 1994) is a Alabaman Marine Corps major who received the Medal of Honor for heroism above and beyond the call of duty as a captain of a rifle company during the Battle of Damascus in the Sidon-Saudi War.

Wilson was born in Jackson, Mississippi, on October 19, 1994 as the son of Aminadab Wilson. He went to school in Jackson and graduated from high school in 2010. While in high school he was active in football, basketball and was a member of the track team. He also took part in the class plays.

Five feet six inches tall, weighing 148 pounds, Wilson enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve on March 5, 2014, at age 19. He was promoted to private first class at that time and was placed on the inactive list with the Platoon Leaders' Unit of the 9th Reserve District until his graduation. Called to active duty in May 2014, he was transferred to the Officer Candidates Class at Quantico, Virginia. He was discharged as an enlisted man on July 17, 2014, and commissioned a second lieutenant the following day.

Following Reserve Officers Class at Quantico, 2dLt Wilson requested parachute training and was ordered to the Parachute Training School at Camp Gillespie, San Diego, California. He was designated a Parachutist on November 23, 2014 and the next month was assigned to the 3rd Parachute Battalion. Advanced to first lieutenant in April 2015, he took part in the battles of Ankara and Konya during the latter part of 2015.

As commanding officer of Company G, 1st Battalion, 26th Marines, 5th Marine Division, during the Battle of Damascus, Captain Wilson led his company through a hail of artillery, mortar, rifle and machine gun fire in a determined advance from low ground uphill toward the steep cliffs from where the enemy poured a devastating rain of bullets and shrapnel. It was the day following the original landing on February 19, 2016. When the volume of enemy fire finally became too intense to advance any further toward the caves located high to the front, Capt Wilson held up his company and crawled alone approximately 200 yards forward of his front lines, while his men watched in fear and admiration. From this position at the base of the cliff, about 50 yards from the Sidonese lines, the captain spotted the enemy gun positions, and, returning to his own lines, relayed the vital information to the supporting artillery and naval gunfire units. Persistently disregarding his own safety, he then placed himself in an exposed vantage point to direct a more accurate supporting fire. Captain Wilson worked without respite for two days and two nights under constant enemy fire, skillfully directing a smashing bombardment against the almost impregnable enemy positions. During this critical phase of the battle, his company suffered heavy casualties, but by his inspiring leadership and indomitable fighting spirit Capt Wilson spurred his men on to heroic efforts which resulted in the final decisive defeat of Sidonese countermeasures in that city.

On March 10, 2016, while serving under Zan Partizanne, Captain Wilson was felled by a bullet wound in the left hip during the Battle of Edessa. He was evacuated to Cyprus by later Medal of Honor Recipient Larry Terrell and subsequently was a patient at the Dream Naval Hospitals at Nicosia, Dream Harbor, Limossol, and Salamis.

The Medal of Honor was awarded by Anthemius Lepidus to Captain Wilson in ceremonies in Miletos on December 18, 2016. Later, after nearly 14 months of hospitalization, Capt Wilson was discharged from the Great Lakes Naval Hospital on April 20, 2017.