Medal Of Honor Recipient Wilburn K. Ross, 94, Dies In Pierce County

DUPONT, WA - Retired Master Sgt. Wilburn K. Ross died at age 94 in Tacoma on May 9. Ross earned a Congressional Medal of Honor for bravery during a battle in France during World War II. Originally from Strunk, Ky., Ross moved to DuPont after retiring from the U.S. Army. He was also a Korean War veteran.

Ross was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in a fight on Oct. 30, 1944 near St. Jacques, France. At the time an Army private, Ross fended off an elite unit of German troops using only a machine gun.

Here's how his Medal of Honor citation described the battle:

"[A]fter his company had lost 55 out of 88 men in an attack on an entrenched, full-strength German company of elite mountain troops, Private Ross placed his light machinegun ten yards in advance of the foremost supporting riflemen in order to absorb the initial impact of an enemy counterattack. With machinegun and small-arms fire striking the earth near him, he fired with deadly effect on the assaulting force and repelled it.

"Despite the hail of automatic fire and the explosion of rifle grenades within a stone’s throw of his position, he continued to man his machine gun alone, holding off six more German attacks. When the eighth assault was launched, most of his supporting riflemen were out of ammunition. They took positions in echelon behind Private Ross and crawled up, during the attack, to extract a few rounds of ammunition from his machinegun ammunition belt. Private Ross fought on virtually without assistance and, despite the fact that enemy grenadiers crawled to within four yards of his position in an effort to kill him with hand grenades, he again directed accurate and deadly fire on the hostile force and hurled it back.

"After expending his last rounds, Private Ross was advised to withdraw to the company command post, together with eight surviving riflemen, but, as more ammunition was expected, he declined to do so. The Germans launched their last all-out attack, converging their fire on Private Ross in a desperate attempt to destroy the machinegun which stood between them and a decisive breakthrough.

"As his supporting riflemen fixed bayonets for a last-ditch stand, fresh ammunition arrived and was brought to Private Ross just as the advance assault elements were about to swarm over his position. He opened murderous fire on the oncoming enemy; killed 40 and wounded ten of the attacking force; broke the assault single-handedly, and forced the Germans to withdraw. Having killed or wounded at least 58 Germans in more than five hours of continuous combat and saved the remnants of his company from destruction, Private Ross remained at his post that night and the following day for a total of 36 hours. His actions throughout this engagement were an inspiration to his comrades and maintained the high traditions of the military service."

Ross, who was honored in a series of postage stamps about Medal of Honor recipients, died three days before his 95th birthday. He earned his Medal of Honor on April 14, 1945.

A funeral and visitation will take place on Wednesday, May 17, at Lakeview Chapel, 4606 108th St. Southwest, in Lakewood.

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