Sgt. Willard Eugene Wilson was born on 3 April 1947, the son of Willard Guy Wilson and Virginia Evelyn Dugger Wilson. The family formerly resided in Unicoi but at the time of his death in Flint, Mich. He graduated at Grand Blanc High School in Michigan with the class of 1966 and was an attendant at the Maple Point Shell Service Station, 4532 S. Saginaw Rd. Burton Township, before he was drafted. He was married to the former Vickie Johnson. Sgt. Wilson was drafted in June, 1968. He was sent to Vietnam August 2.
He was killed in action on September 16, 1969 in Quang Ngai Province, SouthVietnam, while serving with C Company, 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry. He and two other members of Charlie were killed when a patrol entered into a U-shaped ambush about 11 kilometers south-southwest of Mo Duc.
He is buried at Roselawn Memorial Park, Carter County, TN
Johnson City Press Chronicle, Sep. 23, 1969:
The body of Sgt. Willard Eugene Wilson, 21, who was killed in Vietnam Sept. 16, will be returned here for funeral services and burial.
Sgt. Wilson had been in Vietnam for about a month. Relatives reported that he and his wife Vickie planned to make their home here and attend ETSU upon his discharge from service. He is survived, in addition to his widow, by two sisters, Elizabeth and Elaine, Flint, Mich., his parents, W.Guy and Pansy Wilson, formerly of Unicoi, now residing in Flint, Mich., paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Burnie W. Wilson, Unicoi and maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Dave Garland, Rt. 1, Unicoi.
- Rank: Sergeant
- Date of birth: 3 April 1947
- Date of death: 16 September 1969
- County: Unicoi
- Hometown: Carter
- Service Branch: Army
- Division/Assignment: C Company, 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry
- Conflict: Vietnam
- Awards: Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: Roselawn Memorial Park, Carter County, Tennessee
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XXIV, Middle Panel
- Contact us to sponsor Willard E. Wilson
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