Honors bestowed after death cannot satisfy the dead, who are beyond satisfaction, but we the living can derive a feeling of doing right by the dead, of discharging our duty to the past by offering a complete record to the future of those who served in the cause of our nation’s defense.
The Perry Historic Preservation Commission discharged a part of that duty Wednesday afternoon at Violet Hill Cemetery in Perry when they installed three bronze grave markers in honor of three Perry-area brothers killed in World War II while serving in the U.S. Air Force.
Seven surviving children were born to Claiborne D. “Clabe” Wilson and Leora Goff Wilson, five boys and two girls. The family farmed near Minburn until all five sons went off to fight in World War II, and the family then moved to an acreage near Perry.
The two eldest sons joined the U.S. Navy and survived the war. Their three younger brothers joined the U.S. Air Force and became pilots. All three died in flight.
Dale R. Wilson was only 22 when he was lost in action flying a B-25 bomber in the Pacific Theater of Operations, somewhere over Papua New Guinea. Daniel S. Wilson was only 21 when his P-38 plane was shot down in the European Theater of Operation over Austria. Claiborne D. “Junior” Wilson was 20 when his P-40 Warhawk exploded during training exercises in Texas.
Few remembered the scale of the Wilson family’s sacrifice until the pilots’ niece, Joy Neal Kidney of West Des Moines, wrote a moving article in May for the Des Moines Register, and the story came to the attention of the Perry Historic Preservation Commission.
Kidney and her sister, Gloria Neal of Dexter, are the daughters of Warren D. Neal of Dexter and Doris Wilson Neal, elder sister of the three pilots honored Wednesday, more than 70 years after their deaths.
“I remember mom talking about when one of the telegrams came,” Kidney said Wednesday. “Grandma expected it to be news of Donny’s death, but it was Junior’s, and then she was frantic.”
Donald W. Wilson served aboard the USS Yorktown and narrowly survived its sinking in the battle of Midway June 4, 1942.
The ceremony at Violet Hill began with an introduction by Perry Historic Preservation Commission Chairperson Jeanette Peddicord. Perry City Administrator Sven Peterson then welcomed the gathering, which included about 20 people.
Perry Historic Preservation Commission member John Palmer read an account of the Wilson family and their sacrifices. He was followed by Staff Sgt. Raymond Aucker of the 1168th Transportation Company of the Iowa Army National Guard, stationed at the armory in Perry, who spoke briefly about the duties owed to fallen soldiers.
Perry Historic Preservation Commission members Gene Peel and Joe McCarty then placed the grave markers at the grave of Junior Wilson and at the cenotaph of Daniel and Dale Wilson, whose remains lie elsewhere. Peel described the research needed to secure the grave markers from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration.
Gary Martin, Perry Historic Preservation Commission member, then read a poem entitled, “When Freedom Bled,” by R. J. Scarr.
When came the moment, came the men.
But they were made from special seed.
And so they flocked to heed the call.
For they were men of yesterday’s breed.
Allied, they came from far and wide,
to fight in Freedom’s name.
And valor was their watchword.
But their likes will never come again.
They were your Uncles and your Grandads,
of every color, culture, creed.
And they came because they could not bear,
to watch the cause for Freedom bleed.
They fought upon the battlefields.
On the sea and in the air.
There was barely a parent in their lands,
who could not say: “My boy is there!”
Time and time they risked their lives.
Even knowing time was running out.
Yet still they ventured into hell.
That’s what raw courage is all about.
They fought the scourge of tyranny
to keep us safe and free.
And many thousands gave their lives,
to protect the cause of liberty.
So spare a moment now and then,
in the midst of this and that.
To send a prayer of thanks to them.
And if you have one. Doff your hat.
A reception at the Hotel Pattee followed the graveside ceremonies. Refreshments were served, including a memorial cake honoring the three fallen Wilson brothers and all the war dead.
Joy Neal Kidney has created a Facebook page for fans of Perry-area local history and encourages visitors.
What sacrifice! Thank you for honoring these men and their families. I cannot even imagine the pain of losing three beautiful, strong, handsome sons to war. Thank you for your service, Wilson Brothers three.
Beautifully written article, Jim!
Jim, Thank you so much for sharing this information on the above story. I wish all the tributes could have started 30 years ago while those who survived were here to hear them. But those like my father went on with life, raising families and being good citizens, not talking about the bad, or did I not listen when I was young? I appreciate them all now. Deanette
Thanks, Jim, for the covering this presentation so thoroughly! Since all of this started with a Memorial Day news article, I appreciate the follow-up and outstanding coverage of the Wilson family. Joy’s sharing of her uncles’ military stories during WWII is fantastic, and we need to have more accounts of what the brave men and women of our country have done to give us the easy lives we have today! Thanks to those who participated to make yesterday so special! Jeanette
Many thanks to you, Jeanette, and to the whole Perry Historic Preservation Commission for bringing about this event for the Wilsons and for making their remarkable — and remarkably sad — story more widely known. Please keep up the good work!
Thank you so much for capturing this wonderful recognition ceremony of the losses of my mothers’ younger brothers. And to Jeanette Peddicord and the committee involved. We are very blessed by all of it.
The photos of the Wilson family and all the Wilson boys’ pictures were taken by Edmonson’s Studio in Perry.
Very nice article. Thank you. One small point though: the three pilots served in the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). The U.S. Air Force didn’t come into being until 1947.