New Cape Girardeau City Hall exhibit honors Medal of Honor recipient

FOX23 News at 9 p.m

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., (KBSI) — The Stars and Stripes Museum has installed a new exhibit at Cape Girardeau City Hall honoring local Medal of Honor recipient Army Pfc. Richard G. Wilson.

Wilson grew up in Cape Girardeau, attended May Greene School and played football at Central High School. He enlisted in the Army on his 17th birthday in 1948.

Wilson served as a combat medic with the 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment during the Korean War. On Oct. 21, 1950, his unit was ambushed near Opa-ri and forced to retreat under heavy fire.

Wilson repeatedly put himself in danger to treat and evacuate wounded soldiers. After reaching safety, he learned that a wounded soldier who had been presumed dead was attempting to crawl away from the battlefield.

Unarmed and against the advice of others, Wilson returned under enemy fire to rescue the soldier. Wilson was found dead two days later beside the man he had attempted to save.

Wilson remains Cape Girardeau’s only Medal of Honor recipient. The community is invited to visit the exhibit at City Hall to learn about his service and sacrifice.