Wilburn K. Ross facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wilburn K. Ross
|
|
|---|---|
Wilburn Ross in 1964
|
|
| Birth name | Wilburn Kirby Ross |
| Born | May 12, 1922 Strunk, Kentucky |
| Died | May 9, 2017 (aged 94) Tacoma, Washington |
| Place of burial |
Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent, Washington
|
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ |
United States Army |
| Rank | Master Sergeant |
| Unit | 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars | World War II Korean War |
| Awards |  Medal of Honor Bronze Star |
Wilburn Kirby Ross was a brave soldier in the United States Army. He lived from 1922 to 2017. He received the Medal of Honor, which is the highest award a soldier can get in the U.S. military. He earned this award for his amazing actions during World War II.
Contents
Early Life
Wilburn Ross was born in a place called Strunk, Kentucky. Even as a young boy, he was very good at shooting. He used to practice by putting a match in a tree and lighting it with a shot from his small rifle! This showed he had great aim.
Military Service
Wilburn started working in coal mines when he was 18. But soon after, he joined the United States Army. By October 30, 1944, he was a private in Company G. This was part of the 30th Infantry Regiment and the 3rd Infantry Division.
A Heroic Day in France
On that important day, near Saint-Jacques, France, Ross was in charge of a machine gun. German soldiers attacked many times. Ross kept firing his machine gun, holding off the enemy. He continued even after the other soldiers helping him ran out of bullets.
During the fight, Ross saw what he thought was a German soldier who had passed away. But this person was actually alive! An American Lieutenant was watching Ross the whole time. This officer later told everyone about Ross's brave actions. He suggested Ross should get the Medal of Honor. Six months later, on April 14, 1945, Wilburn Ross received this incredible award.
After World War II
After World War II ended, Wilburn Ross worked a government job for a short time. But he soon joined the Army again. He was sent to fight in the Korean War. He was injured after only nine days of fighting there. Ross stayed in the Army until 1964. He retired as a Master Sergeant, which is a high rank for a soldier.
Personal Life
Before 1950, Wilburn Ross worked for the Kentucky Highway Authority for two years. He got married in 1960. After he retired from the U.S. Army, he lived in DuPont, Washington. He and his wife raised six children together. After leaving the Army, he also worked at a hospital for veterans and a pickle factory in Washington. His wife, Monica, passed away in 2011.
Passing Away
Wilburn Ross passed away in Tacoma, on May 9, 2017. This was just three days before his 95th birthday.
Special Honors
Wilburn Ross received many honors for his bravery and service.
- In 1978, a part of Route 27 in McCreary County, Kentucky, was named after him.
- On September 18, 2013, he was honored by the U.S. Congress.
- On Veteran's Day, November 11, 2013, the U.S. Postal Service released special Forever stamps about World War II Medal of Honor recipients. The set included a picture of Wilburn Ross.
- In 2014, Wilburn Ross was part of the first group of people to be added to the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame.
- The town of DuPont named a community park after him. They also put up a memorial there. The memorial has the official words from his Medal of Honor award.
See Also
