William Frank Wilson

PFC William “Bill” Wilson served as an automatic rifleman (or BARman) with G/2/8th Marines. He spent the first part of his war on garrison duty in Samoa before deploying to the South Pacific with his regiment in November 1942. As comparatively fresh troops, the 8th Marines were committed to assisting the Army’s advance along Guadalcanal’s north coast – already the scene of repeated heavy fighting.

At 0630 on 24 November, the Second Battalion, 8th Marines passed through the lines of 3/164th Infantry and advanced towards Japanese positions on Hill 83. Their morale was boosted by a heavy artillery barrage – but the relief was short lived. “Japanese machine guns and mortars were so well emplaced in rock and coral that the artillery preparation… had very little effect,” noted the regiment’s daily operations report. “When our assault companies reached the edge of the wooded draw to their front, they were met with heavy machine guns, mortars, and hand grenade fire.”

While the entire battalion “suffered numerous casualties,” George Company suffered worst of all. An experienced platoon leader, 2Lt. Glen Burnham, was among the dead, as was a seasoned NCO, Sergeant Raphael R. McGauran. Four hours of fighting netted no gains, and 2/8th Marines fell back to their jumping off positions on the high ground. They would send out a few security patrols, but could not advance any farther. The bodies of two George Company Marines were left in the field – and five men were reported as missing in action. PFC Wilson was never seen again, and was ultimately declared dead on 24 November 1943.