Homer L. Wise
Homer L. Wise | |
---|---|
First Sergeant | |
Unit | 142nd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division |
Battles/wars | World War II
|
Awards | Croix de Guerre (France) |
Homer Lee Wise (February 27, 1917 – April 22, 1974) was a United States Army soldier who received the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.
After dropping out of school and working odd jobs he joined the Army at the age of 24 and after completing training was sent to Europe during World War II to fight in the Allied invasion of Italy. He continued fighting in various locations and battles throughout Europe, receiving the Medal of Honor, Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his actions in combat.
After he was discharged from the Army he worked at a local college before re-enlisting in the Army. He retired as a first sergeant in 1966. He was one of the six honorary
When he died in 1974 he was buried in Darien, Connecticut.
Early life and family
Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Wise grew up with a love of hunting and fishing. He left school after the eighth grade and worked odd jobs in Texas. At age 24 in 1941, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in Baton Rouge.
While stationed at Camp Edwards in 1942 on Cape Cod in Massachusetts, Wise met Madolyn DiSesa; the couple became engaged in January 1943 and married on February 12, 1945. DiSesa was from Stamford, Connecticut, and for the next 30 years they lived together in Stamford, having one child, a son Jeffrey, in 1949. Jeffrey died in 1990 at age 40.
World War II service
From April to September 1943, Wise trained with the
By June 14, 1944, he was serving as a
Beginning in August 1944, Wise participated in the
Later life
On July 21, 1945, he received an honorable discharge from the Army. Wise worked in Stamford, Connecticut, until 1947, when he re-enlisted in the Army and served in various recruiting and administrative roles. He was the director of Army recruiting in Stamford through 1959, interrupted by a two-year stint in Germany from 1952 to 1954. He served in France from 1961 to 1963, at
He was one of six honorary
Wise died in Stamford at age 57 of
Medal of Honor citation
Staff Sergeant Wise's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
While his platoon was pinned down by enemy small-arms fire from both flanks, he left his position of comparative safety and assisted in carrying 1 of his men, who had been seriously wounded and who lay in an exposed position, to a point where he could receive medical attention. The advance of the platoon was resumed but was again stopped by enemy frontal fire. A German officer and 2 enlisted men, armed with automatic weapons, threatened the right flank. Fearlessly exposing himself, he moved to a position from which he killed all 3 with his
M1 rifle and several antitank grenades, then took up a position from which he delivered accurate fire on the enemy holding up the advance. As the battalion moved forward it was again stopped by enemy frontal and flanking fire. He procured an automatic rifle and, advancing ahead of his men, neutralized an enemy machinegun with his fire. When the flanking fire became more intense he ran to a nearby tank and exposing himself on the turret, restored a jammed machinegun to operating efficiency and used it so effectively that the enemy fire from an adjacent ridge was materially reduced thus permitting the battalion to occupy its objective.[2]
Memorials
In 2008,
There is also a small park, the "Homer Lee Wise Memorial Park" at the corner of Chester and Bedford Streets in Stamford, Connecticut.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d "Veterans Honored In Hartford". Hartford, Connecticut: WFSB. November 17, 2009. Archived from the original on March 8, 2011.
- ^ a b "Medal of Honor recipients - World War II (T–Z)". Medal of Honor citations. United States Army Center of Military History. June 8, 2009. Retrieved September 18, 2007.
- ^ "The Homer L. Wise Memorial Committee". The Homer L. Wise Memorial Committee. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
- ^ King, Kate (May 23, 2013). "World War II Hero to Be Honored at Stamford Memorial Day Event". The Stamford Advocate. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
External links
- "Homer L. Wise". Hall of Valor. Military Times. Retrieved March 24, 2010.
- "Sergeant Homer L. Wise Memorial Committee". Retrieved March 24, 2010.
- "Link to Homer L. Wise YouTube Video". Retrieved March 24, 2010.[dead YouTube link][dead YouTube link]