SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 52
(By Senators Chafin and Wells)
Honoring General Louis L. Wilson, Jr., native West Virginian and
retired four-star general of the United States Air Force.
Whereas, General Louis L. Wilson, Jr. was born in Huntington,
West Virginia, in the year 1919; and
Whereas, In 1937, General Louis L. Wilson, Jr. graduated from
high school in Hurricane, West Virginia, and then attended
Greenbriar Military School in Lewisburg, West Virginia; and
Whereas, After a year's service with the 11
th Infantry, United
States Army, General Louis L. Wilson, Jr. entered the United States
Military Academy at West Point, New York, in 1939, and graduated in
January of 1943, with a commission as a second lieutenant and also
completed flying school; and
Whereas, During World War II, General Louis L. Wilson, Jr. had
flown 114 combat missions and was commander of the 367
th Fighter
Squadron; and
Whereas, During his distinguished military career, General
Louis L. Wilson, Jr. served his country in a variety of capacities
including as a B-29 and B-36 squadron commander, as the deputy
director of personnel for the Eighth Air Force Headquarters in Fort
Worth, Texas, as director of operations for the 380
th Bombardment
Wing at Plattsburgh Air Force Base, New York, as director of plans for the Eighth Air Force headquarters at Westover Air Force Base in
Massachusetts, as commander of the 4081
st Strategic Wing at Ernest
Harmon Air Base in Newfoundland and as chief of the plans division
at Strategic Air Command headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base in
Nebraska; and
Whereas, In September 1971, General Louis L. Wilson, Jr. was
appointed the inspector general of the United States Air Force and
assumed duties as vice commander in chief for the United States Air
Forces in Europe; and
Whereas, In July 1974, General Louis L. Wilson, Jr. was
appointed as the commander in chief for the Pacific Air Forces,
with headquarters at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii; and
Whereas, General Louis L. Wilson, Jr. was promoted to rank of
general July 1, 1974, the highest rank achievable in the United
States Air Force; and
Whereas, General Louis L. Wilson, Jr.'s decorations and awards
include the Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster,
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross,
Air Medal with 18 oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal,
Presidential Unit Citation Emblem with two oak leaf clusters and
French Croix de Guerre; and
Whereas, General Louis L. Wilson, Jr. was a command pilot and
wears the Master Missileman Badge; and
Whereas, General Louis L. Wilson, Jr. retired on May 31, 1977, after one of the most decorated military careers in American
history and continues to enjoy his retirement to this day;
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate:
That the Senate hereby honors General Louis L. Wilson, Jr.,
native West Virginian and retired four-star general of the United
States Air Force; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Senate expresses its sincere
gratitude to General Louis L. Wilson, Jr. for his dedicated service
to his state and country; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward
a copy of the resolution to General Louis L. Wilson, Jr.