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Wilburn K. Ross
Wilburn K. Ross.jpg
Wilburn Ross in 1964
Birth name Wilburn Kirby Ross
Born (1922-05-12)May 12, 1922
Strunk, Kentucky
Died May 9, 2017(2017-05-09) (aged 94)
Tacoma, Washington
Place of burial
Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent, Washington
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Rank Master Sergeant
Unit 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division
Battles/wars World War II Korean War
Awards Armymoh.jpg Medal of Honor Bronze Star
Wilburn K Ross May 1963
Wilburn K. Ross (right) being congratulated by President John F. Kennedy in 1963

Wilburn Kirby Ross (May 12, 1922 – May 9, 2017) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.

Early life

Ross was born in Strunk, Kentucky. As a boy he would practice his marksmanship by placing a match in the crook of a tree and lighting it from a distance with a round from his .22 caliber rifle.

Military career

He started working in coal mines at age 18, but he soon joined the United States Army. By October 30, 1944, he was serving as a private in Company G, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. On that day, near Saint-Jacques, France, Ross manned a machine gun through repeated German assaults, holding off the enemy even after his supporting riflemen had run out of ammunition. During the incident, Ross noticed what he thought was the body of a deceased German soldier. This individual was in fact alive, and an American Lieutenant, who was watching Ross the entire time. This lieutenant later reported Ross' acts of valor and recommended him for the Medal of Honor which was issued six months later, on April 14, 1945.

Following World War II, he re-enlisted after a short period working a government job. Deployed to fight in Korea he was injured after nine days in combat. Remaining in the Army until 1964, Ross retired as a master sergeant.

Personal life

For a two-year period before 1950, Ross worked for the Kentucky Highway Authority. Ross married in 1960, and after retiring from the U.S. Army, lived in DuPont, Washington. He and his wife raised six children. After retiring from the Army he worked for a veterans hospital as well as a pickle factory in Washington. His wife, Monica, died in 2011.

Death

Ross died in Tacoma, on May 9, 2017, three days before his 95th birthday.

Honors

In 1978, the section of Route 27 running through McCreary County, Kentucky was named for Ross.

On September 18, 2013, he was honored in the first session of the 113th Congress.

On Veteran's Day, November 11, 2013, the U.S. Postal Service dedicated a set of World War II Medal of Honor Forever stamps. The cover set featured pictures of 12 Medal of Honor recipients, including Ross.

Ross was inducted into the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame in 2014, its inaugural class.

The town of DuPont named a community park after him and erected a memorial. The memorial inscription includes Ross's official Medal of Honor citation.

See also

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