Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
William
Wallace
Wilson
POW (RVN)
May 16, 1947

–

William Wallace was commissioned through the Air Force ROTC program at Iowa State University. During the Vietnam War he was interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam after he was shot down on December 22, 1972. He managed to evade his enemies for a week before being captured and taken as a Prisoner of War on December 29, 1972, and was held until his release on March 29, 1973. He subsequently served as an F-100D Super Sabre pilot with the 132nd Tactical Fighter Wing of the Iowa Air National Guard from September 1975 until he went into the inactive reserve on October 16, 1978.

Awards Received

  • Prisoner of War Medal

    Service:

    United States Air Force

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant

    Division:

    Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)

    Action Date:

    December 22, 1972 – March 29, 1973

    First Lieutenant William Wallace Wilson, United States Air Force, was held as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from December 22, 1972 until his release on March 29, 1973.

  • Bronze Star Medal

    Service:

    United States Air Force

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant

    Division:

    Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)

    Action Date:

    December 22, 1972 – March 29, 1973

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Executive Order 11046, 24 August 1962, takes pleasure in presenting the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to First Lieutenant William Wallace Wilson, United States Air Force, for heroic achievement while a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from 22 December 1972 to 29 March 1972. His ceaseless efforts to conduct himself strictly in accord with the Code of Conduct and policies of the prisoner organization in the difficult conditions of a communist prison clearly demonstrated his loyalty, love of country, and professionalism. By his unselfish dedication to duty, he reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Air Force

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant

    Batallion:

    429th Tactical Fighter Squadron

    Division:

    Takhli Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand

    Action Date:

    December 22, 1972

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 8, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant William Wallace Wilson, United States Air Force, for gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force while serving with the 429th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Takhli Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand, in action near Hanoi, North Vietnam on 22 December 1972. On that date, Lieutenant Wilson, as Weapons System Officer, struck a vital storage area in the heart of Hanoi destroying a significant quantity of stockpiled military supplies. Despite intense and extremely accurate antiaircraft fire and the surface-to-air missile threat, Lieutenant Wilson continued his mission. Suffering the loss of one engine over the target, Lieutenant Wilson was still able to direct his aircraft out of the immediate Hanoi area before he was forced to eject. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Lieutenant Wilson has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.