George Wilkens ’43

silver-star

George Wilkens

George Wilkens
Class of 1943
3rd Battalion, 398th Infantry Regiment, 100th Infantry Division, USAFE

Silver Star (Posthumously) for conspicuous gallantry while leading a combat patrol toward enemy territory at midnight on 1 March 1945. Lt. Wilkens encountered a hostile mine field and ordered his men to retrace their steps. When an alternate route was found, he instructed the members of the patrol to remain behind while he moved forward alone to reconnoiter. In so doing he was killed by the detonation of a mine, thus saving the lives of his comrades.

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