Prince Holmes Wilson
PFC Prince H. Wilson served with Baker Company, First Battalion, 1st Marine Parachute Regiment.
He was killed in action at Koiari, Bougainville, on 29 November 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 328026
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered.
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
October 29, 1922
at White Sulphur Springs, MT
Parents
John Evans Wilson
Lotta Lillian (Holmes) Wilson
Education
Details unknown
Occupation & Employer
Electrician
Service Life
Entered Service
December 4, 1941
at Butte, MT
Home Of Record
Route 1
Missoula, MT
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Lotta Wilson
Military Specialty
Parachutist
Primary Unit
B/1st Paramarines
Campaigns Served
Bougainville
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
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Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
At 0300 on 29 November 1943, PFC Prince Wilson and his comrades in the First Parachute Battalion boarded landing craft from a Bougainville beach and set off for what they hoped would be a surprise amphibious assault on the Japanese rear.
The Marines planned to storm ashore near Koiari and establish a temporary base, from which they could conduct raids against Japanese communications, supplies, and artillery positions. Unfortunately, they landed in the middle of a well-guarded supply depot and the Japanese responded with overwhelming force. The Marines made a little headway but were outnumbered and outgunned from the outset. Casualties quickly began to mount.
Fighting raged for the rest of the day; by afternoon, the Marines realized that they were not going to be able to advance, and the Japanese were busily bringing up reinforcements. The Americans were taken off by landing boats under cover of darkness, and returned to their original bivouac. Fifteen men were killed, and another seven listed as missing – turning the Koiari Raid into a costly failure.
PFC Wilson was shot and killed at around 0900 hours on 29 November. No further specifics of his death are known.
Burial Information or Disposition
The Marines were forced to leave their dead behind during their evacuation. Before they left, however, they took care to note the location of Kramer’s death (at coordinates 149.46-210.80, IMAC Hasty Terrain Map Sheet 145) and ensured that an identification tag was left with the body.
At some point after the battle, the remains of eight men – Adams, Lamon, Sigler, Johansen, Narramore, McAbee, Liggett, and White – were interred in the “Army, Navy, Marine Cemetery, Koiari Beach.” Another man, PFC Clement Vierra, was identified from unknown remains after the war. PFC Wilson and PFC John H. Kramer were never identified; they may be among the unknowns buried in Manila, or may still lie somewhere in the vicinity of Koiari.
Memorials
Next Of Kin Address
Approximate address of mother, Mrs. Lotta Wilson.
Lotta relocated to Seattle after her sons joined the service.
Location Of Loss
Wilson was killed in action in the vicinity of Koiari, Bougainville.
