Medal of Honor winner dies in Pierce County at age 94

Wilburn K. Ross, a Pierce County resident who was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1945 for holding back nine German counterattacks with a light machine gun during World War II, died Tuesday at age 94.

The Medal of Honor is the United States military’s highest honor.

Here is additional information on Ross from a Historylink.org essay by Duane Colt Denfeld, Ph.D.

He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions on October 30, 1944, near St. Jacques, France. At 11.30 on that morning his company came under intense German counterattacks. They had already lost 55 of their 88 men in their attacks on a well-entrenched German position held by an elite unit. Going on the defense, his company established positions in anticipation of German counterattacks.

Private Ross placed his light machine gun 10 yards in front of his company’s riflemen. He was forward to absorb the initial impact of the enemy counterattack. As the counterattack arrived Private Ross came under heavy fire. He maintained his position, holding back seven counterattacks. By the eighth counterattack the defending riflemen had nearly exhausted their ammunition. Eight riflemen crawled to Ross’ position and got from him some ammunition. The German troops had also crawled toward Private Ross and hurled hand grenades at his position.

Private Ross stopped the enemy with accurate and deadly fire until his ammunition ran out. He was told to withdraw, but ammunition resupply was expected, so remained. Fresh ammunition arrived just as the German forces prepared to overrun the defenses. Ross loaded his machine gun and laid deadly fire on the Germans as they hit his position. During the counterattacks he killed or wounded 58 Germans, breaking their assault. Private Ross remained at his position through the night and the next day, spending 36 hours in defense. His actions throughout this engagement were an inspiration to his comrades.

He was awarded the Medal of Honor in a ceremony at a former German memorial stadium in Nuremberg, Germany, on April 14, 1945. In the ceremony five Third Infantry Division soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor. During the war Private Ross was wounded three times. His other medals include the Purple Heart, awarded three times; Distinguished Unit Citation; and distinguished French decoration.

Ross was discharged on June 1, 1945, and returned to Kentucky. He worked for the Kentucky Highway Authority, but after two years as a civilian rejoined the military. He would make the army his career, serving at various posts. He would fight in another war, the Korean War.

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