Sioux Falls, SD (KELO-AM) – A Sioux Falls man was posthumously awarded a Congressional Gold Medal for his World War Two service in the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) . Shirley Wilson, widow of lifelong Sioux Falls resident Walter Wilson was presented the award by Senator John Thune Monday afternoon…her son and other family surrounding her. Wilson died in 1997 and his family said he rarely mentioned his service. The Congressional Gold Medal is one of the highest civilian honors that the Government presents. Senator Thune says Wilson was a member of the “greatest generation”, and the honor was "so richly deserved". Thune's father was a WWII aviator.
South Dakota CAP Wing Commander Colonel John Seten said "it's a big deal....without CAP members support, World War Two may have turned out differently". Wilson graduated from Washington High School and served as a Cadet in the Civil Air Patrol’s Sioux Falls Squadron, training for wartime military support functions. Since Congress authorized the honor in 2014, four South Dakotans have been awarded the medal. Learn more about CAP history at this link www.gocivilairpatrol.com