Corporal Edward G. Wilkin - Longmeadow, MA - Graves Mentioning a Cause of Death on Waymarking.com

A granite stone with a bronze plaque marks the head of his grave. The plaque is inscribed:

Below the plaque the granite gravestone is inscribed:

At the foot of the grave and flush to the ground is a bronze plaque which is inscribed:

Edward G. Wilkin was born in Burlington, VT on May 25, 1917. He joined the Army in December 1943 while living in Longmeadow, MA. He was a Corporal in Company C, 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division fighting in Germany when, on March 18, 1945, he risked his life above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. One month later, on April 18, 1945 he was killed in action. He was was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on December 17, 1945.

Corporal Edward G. Wilkin's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

"He spearheaded his unit's assault of the Siegfried Line in Germany. Heavy fire from enemy riflemen and camouflaged pillboxes had pinned down his comrades when he moved forward on his own initiative to reconnoiter a route of advance. He cleared the way into an area studded with pillboxes, where he repeatedly stood up and walked into vicious enemy fire, storming 1 fortification after another with automatic rifle fire and grenades, killing enemy troops, taking prisoners as the enemy defense became confused, and encouraging his comrades by his heroic example. When halted by heavy barbed wire entanglements, he secured bangalore torpedoes and blasted a path toward still more pillboxes, all the time braving bursting grenades and mortar shells and direct rifle and automatic-weapons fire. He engaged in fierce fire fights, standing in the open while his adversaries fought from the protection of concrete emplacements, and on 1 occasion pursued enemy soldiers across an open field and through interlocking trenches, disregarding the crossfire from 2 pillboxes until he had penetrated the formidable line 200 yards in advance of any American element. That night, although terribly fatigued, he refused to rest and insisted on distributing rations and supplies to his comrades. Hearing that a nearby company was suffering heavy casualties, he secured permission to guide litter bearers and assist them in evacuating the wounded. All that night he remained in the battle area on his mercy missions, and for the following 2 days he continued to remove casualties, venturing into enemy-held territory, scorning cover and braving devastating mortar and artillery bombardments. In 3 days he neutralized and captured 6 pillboxes single-handedly, killed at least 9 Germans, wounded 13, took 13 prisoners, aided in the capture of 14 others, and saved many American lives by his fearless performance as a litter bearer. Through his superb fighting skill, dauntless courage, and gallant, inspiring actions, Cpl. Wilkin contributed in large measure to his company's success in cracking the Siegfried Line. One month later he was killed in action while fighting deep in Germany."

Although not required, please include your personal experience of this location.