- SURNAME
Owens
- FORENAME
Wilson Black (Sonny)
- UNIT
Company B 1 Bn
- RANK
Chief Warrant Officer Second Class
- NUMBER
- DATE OF DEATH
20th December 1989
- AGE
29
- GRAVESITE
Southern Palms Memorial Gardens, North Myrtle Beach, Horry County, South Carolina, USA
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 25.4.1960 North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
mother Elizabeth B. Owens (1937-2008)
graduated North Myrtle Beach High School
joined US Navy December 1978
joined Army June 1983
3rd Attack Helicopter Bn (38 months service)
160 SOAR 1986
KIA Panama (Op.Just Cause) (shot down - crashed Panama Canal)
DATE OF DEATH:
20-Dec-1989AWARD:
https://www.specialforcesroh.com/index.php?threads/owens-wilson-black-sonny.58151/CITATION:
Silver Star : The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CW0-2) Wilson Blace Owens, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Pilot in command of an AH-6G Light Attack Helicopter Gunship of Company B, 1st Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Group (Airborne), 1st Special Operations Command, Fort Campbell, Kentucky, in action on 20 December 1989, in support of Operation JUST CAUSE, in Panama. Even though his helicopter sustained hits from enemy anti-aircraft fire, Chief Warrant Officer Owens remained in an intense battle to support the exfiltration of friendly ground forces. After firing his ammunition, he quickly rearmed and returned to the engagement to ensure the successful mission accomplishment of the ground forces. His aircraft, however, sustained a crippling hit and crashed. Chief Warrant Officer Owens' supreme sacrifice so that others might live, coupled with his exemplary performance of duty and absolute dedication, reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.
WEB LINKS:
https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/23765FINDAGRAVE:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/175639430/wilson-black-owens
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