WWII MEDAL OF HONOR HERO DIES

Medal of Honor recipient and World War II combat veteran, hailed a hero, died Tuesday, May 9th, in Washington State.

On 30 October 1944, near St. Jacques, France, twenty-two-year-old, Private Wilburn K. Ross, displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, when he single-handedly held off numerous counter attacks by a full-strength German company of elite mountain troops, after his entrenched company had lost 55 out of 88 men in a devastating German attack. Using his light machinegun, he fired into the assaulting force with deadly accuracy, repelling the Germans again and again, who at times were only a stone’s throw away. Despite the hail of automatic gunfire and grenade explosions landing all around him, Pvt. Ross stopped the German advance over half a dozen times, with only eight surviving riflemen left, until running out of ammunition. Even then and after being advised to retreat, Pvt. Ross stood ready to fight to end, when unexpectedly he was resupplied with ammo. After reloading, Pvt. Ross unleashed Hell upon the advancing enemy, who were about to swarm his position, killing 40 and wounding another 10 Germans, forcing them to withdraw. Pvt. Ross saved the remnants of his company from destruction, remaining at his post that night and the following day for a total of 36 hours, until relieved.

Here is his Medal of Honor citation.

Ross returned to Kentucky after the war was over and became a highway patrolman with the state. He eventually returned to the Army and became a Master Sergeant. During a stint in Korea, his last combat duty, he was badly wounded. The injury was the fourth time he was wounded in the line of duty.

He eventually retired and settled in DuPont, Washington, where he became a bus driver for a Veterans Administration hospital.

He was twice honored with a commemorative stamp, in 1983 and 2013. Ross, a widower, is survived by his six children.

RIP, brother, HOOYAH. INVICTA