- SURNAME
Wilkes
- FORENAME
Philip James
- UNIT
187 Airborne Infantry Regiment
- RANK
Master Sergeant
- NUMBER
39464022
- AWARD
Silver Star
- PLACE
Korea
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
KIA - See Roll of Honour
ROLL OF HONOUR:
https://www.specialforcesroh.com/index.php?threads/wilkes-philip-james.25506/CITATION:
Silver Star : The Silver Star for gallantry in action is posthumously awarded to Master Sergeant Philip J. Wilkes, United States Army. Sergeant Wilkes was a member of Company G, 187th Regimental Combat Team. On February 12, 1951, Company G, reinforced with one platoon of tanks, moved by road from Hoengsong toward Haktan-ni, South Korea, with the mission of breaking through strong enemy forces to entrapped elements of the 38th Infantry Regiment. The weapons platoon, of which Sergeant Wilkes was platoon sergeant, formed the rear guard in the movement through the enemy. As the column passed through a valley, the enemy opened fire on the weapons platoon with mortars, machine gun and small arms fire, in an attempt to surround the platoon and cut it off from the main body. Sergeant Wilkes was wounded in the leg when the first heavy barrage of mortar fire landed in platoon. Despite his wound, and under heavy enemy fire, he carried four other seriously wounded men a distance of two hundred yards to the road, where they could be evacuated to the rear aid station. After evacuating the wounded, Sergeant Wilkes organized the rear elements of the platoon for defense against the enemy attack and personally stood off twenty of the enemy attempting to close in on his position. He then attacked an enemy position alone, throwing hand grenades, killing six and wounding several others. Sergeant Wilkes, while attempting to contact the lead tank of the tank force, in order to load the wounded personnel aboard for evacuation, was mortally wounded. The inspiring leadership, outstanding courage and concern for his comrades' safety, reflects the highest credit upon Sergeant Wilkes. His act was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.