Gleason Woodrow Wilson – Lieutenant Colonel, United States Army

From a contemporary press report:

Gleason Woodrow Wilson, 82, a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel and Washington zoning inspector, died March 8, 1998 at Inova Alexandria Hospital after a heart attack.

Colonel Wilson, who was born in Jonesboro, Maine, graduated from the University of Maine at Orono. He served nearly 22 years in the Army, beginning in 1941.

As a combat engineer during World War II, he commanded a company in the 348th Combat Engineer Battalion, 5th Engineer Special Brigade, which supported the assault forces of the 1st Infantry Division at Omaha Beach in the 1944 invasion of Normandy, France.

After the war, Colonel Wilson returned to civilian life and reserve duty but reentered active service in 1948. He later served in occupied Japan and in Korea during the Korean War. He had other assignments before he was stationed in Washington in 1960. In 1963, he retired from the military and began a second career as a D.C. building and zoning inspector. He retired from that position in 1983.

He was a 50-year member of the Masons and a past member of Alpha Tau Omega social fraternity.

His wife, Margaret Uhler Wilson, died this month.

Survivors include two children, retired Army Lieutenant Colonel James Gleason Wilson of Alexandria and Ann R. Wilson of Havertown, Pa.; a brother; and two grandchildren.

WILSON, GLEASON WOODROW, LTC, USA (Ret.) 

On March 8, 1998, at Alexandria Hospital, GLEASON WOODROW WILSON, husband of the late Margaret U. Wilson. He is survived by his son, James Wilson; a daughter, Ann Wilson and her husband, John Bassani; a brother, Neil Wilson; two grandchildren, Alice and Elisabeth Bassani. Friends may call at the EVERLY-WHEATLEY FUNERAL HOME. 1500 West Braddock Rd., Alexandria, VA on Wednesday, March 18, from 12 noon to 2 p.m., to be followed at 3 p.m. by a simple graveside ceremony with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. If appropriate, charitable remembrances in lieu of flowers can be given in memory of Gleason Woodrow Wilson to INOVA, Alexandria Hospital Foundation, General Fund, 4320 Seminary Rd., Alexandria, VA 22304.

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard