Albert Hugh Wilson

OGDEN-Albert "Willie" Wilson passed away on July 28, 2010. Albert was the fourth of five children, he was born May 22, 1919 to Ewell Vernon and Ethel Maddox Wilson, in Atlanta, GA. He graduated from Technical High School in Atlanta, GA. in 1938. Albert was a member of the Technical High School Band when they performed for President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Inaugural Parade in 1936. He also played in the Mardi Gras, in New Orleans, in 1937. Albert was the bugler for the Georgia National Guards for their summer camps during his four high school years. He enlisted in the US Navy in October 1940. Before and during the first two years of World War II. Albert was Motor Mechanic on the Destroyer, USS DuPont, in the Atlantic Escort Campaign which transported supplies for England before the United States entered WWII. During this time, his destroyer was one of the targets of the German Wolf Pack submarines and they had several encounters with them. After completing Submarine School at New London, CT. in February 1942, he was transferred to submarine duty in the Pacific Campaign. During the Battle of Tarawa, he received injuries from a Japanese Zero attack while he and six other USS Plunger submarine crew members were rescuing a downed USS Lexington pilot. Albert was the main target because he was on lookout on the Conning Tower. He and his six crew members, with survivors of the Battle of Tarawa, were transported on the USS Leonard Wood Coast Guard ship to the Naval Hospital in Hawaii for treatment and recuperation. On December 7, 1943, Admiral C. W. Nimitz awarded Albert, and six other USS Plunger (SS179) crew members, and survivors of the Battle of Tarawa, Purple Heart Ribbons for their heroism during the battle and submarine rescue mission. Upon Mr. Wilson's return from Pacific War duties, he married Shirley Anderson of San Diego, CA. on December 5, 1945. After completing fourteen years in the US Navy, Albert enlisted in the US Air Force for the final six years of his military career. In 1960, he was a crew member of the trial of transporting missiles across the United States by train. He also, performed maintenance duties in the missile silos at Vandenberg Air Force Base. During his military career in the Navy and Air Force, he performed six years of sea duty, and was stationed in eighteen different geographical locations; two of these tours were in Alaska, Adak an Fairbanks. He retired from active military duty at Vandenberg AFB on December 31, 1960, while he was a member of the 4392 Civil Engineering Squadron at Vandenberg AFB for ten years. Albert and his wife, Shirley, lived in Vandenberg Village, Lompoc, California, for 50 years until he entered the Santa Ynez Recovery. They then resided in Solvang, California, in November 2007, because of his inability to walk. They moved to Ogden, Utah, in May 2010, where Albert was a patient at the George E.Wahlen Veterans Home until his death. Albert was a 54-year member of the Masons. He was an active member of the Civil Engineering Squadron Bowling League for 45 years. He enjoyed polishing his automobiles, gardening, fishing, lapidary, and metal detecting. Survivors include his beloved wife of 65 years, Shirley W. Wilson Ogden, Utah; his sisters-in-law; Margery Packer, Ogden, Utah, Kathryn Wilson, Hudson, Florida; and Mary Jo Wilson; Decater, Mississippi; and brother -in-law, Henry John Anderson, and his wife, Bernetta, Idaho Falls, Idaho; and thirty-two nieces and nephews of Idaho, Utah and Georgia. Memorial donations may be made in memory of Albert "Willie" Wilson, to the Employees Christmas Fund, George E. Wahlen, Ogden, Veterans Home, 1102 North, 1200 West, Ogden, UT. 84404. Family services will be held. Condolences may be sent to the family at aaronsmortuary.com