Arthur R. Wilson

Major General Arthur Riehl Wilson (July 18, 1894 – August 11, 1956) was a United States Army officer who served during World War I and World War II. He served in the Pacific Theater as quartermaster of United States Army Forces in Australia, in the Meditteranean Theatre as commander of the Atlantic and Mediterranean Base Sections, and in France and Germany as commander of the Coastal Base Section and

Early career and World War I Arthur R. Wilson was born on July 18, 1894, in Cherokee, California, as the son of Alexander Moffatt and Agnes Matilda Wilson. He attended grammar school in Cherokee and subsequently enrolled at Oroville Union High School. Following the graduation in summer 1913, he briefly worked as a reporter for the Oroville Mercury-Register. He entered the University of California at Berkeley and enlisted the California National Guard.

Wilson rose through the ranks from Private to Sergeant and left the University in June 1916, when his regiment was called for the federal service during Pancho Villa Expedition. He was ordered to the Mexican Border with 2nd California National Guard Infantry Regiment and was promoted to the rank of Quartermaster Sergeant. Wilson's unit was deactivated by the end of September 1916 and he returned to the civilian life.

Wilson was appointed Chief of the WPA Branch at the Supply Division, War Department General Staff in September 1939 and remained in that capacity until January 1940, when he resumed his previous duty as liaison officer with the War Department General Staff. He was appointed Chief of the Federal Works Agency Branch within the Supply Division in June 1940 and was promoted to lieutenant colonel on August 18 of that year. While in this capacity, Wilson was given additional duty as liaison officer with the Truman Committee under then-Senator Harry S. Truman, which was formed in March 1941 to find and correct problems in U.S. war production with waste, inefficiency, and war profiteering.

Wilson returned to the United States in June 1942 and then embarked for Europe as Commanding general, Services of Supply, Western Task Force during the Operation Torch, the Anglo–American invasion of French North Africa in November 1942.

In July 1944, Wilson was based in Naples, Italy as commanding general, Coastal Base Section, which accompanied the Seventh Army on 15 August 1944 during Operation Dragoon, the Allied invasion of Southern France. For the first three weeks Coastal Base Section was largely occupied with the operation of the landing beaches. Wilson also transformed Naples into the major supply center on the Italian mainland and did the similar work in two other ports.

Wilson's work was appreciated by the Italian Government and he was decorated with the Order of the Crown of Italy and the University of Naples awarded him an honorary degree of doctor of laws. The City of Naples conferred honorary citizenship upon him and he was also elected a Cavalier Magistrate, Order of the Knights of Malta, in connection with these recognition's of his significant part in helping to restore the life and culture of Free Italy. For his service in that capacity, Wilson received Army Distinguished Service Medal.

Wilson participated in the Ardennes-Alsace and Central Europe operations. He distinguished himself in this capacity and received second Army Distinguished Service Medal and Bronze Star Medal. He was also decorated with the Legion of Honour, Croix de Guerre with Palm by the Government of France.

Postwar service and retirement Wilson returned to the United States, where he was a military aide to Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman and a liaison officer between Congress and the War Department. He retired from active duty in May 1946, after almost thirty years of service, and accepted job as vice president of Trans World Airlines. He remained in this capacity until late 1947, when he opened is own trading company as vice president of Industrial Products Trading Company.

Decorations Here is Major General Wilson's ribbon bar: