USAFA Class Histories

The Adventures of Joe H.R. Wilson, Lieutenant Colonel, US Army, Retired

Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, 8th of August, 1940.

I feel like my life has been a series of adventures, each with its own very formidable challenges demanding full commitment and courage. It has been  exciting, meaningful, and rewarding. Yes, you will find me “blowing my own horn” for the accomplishments of which I am most proud. Not everything I tried worked. But I learned from my mistakes. Through it all, my wife, Berit, sons Todd and Steven and our whole family and I have given each other our full mutual support. I wouldn’t have made it without them!

Growing up and entering the Academy.

The Army has always been a part of my life. My Dad had been a Master Sergeant in the Army and we moved 5 times before I was 6. My first and only doll was a rag-doll soldier, and I my Mom made my first Army uniform when I was only three. We landed in Spirit Lake, Idaho when I was 5 and that’s where I grew up. My big brother who was also an important role-model in my life joined the Army when I was 10, later becoming a member of the elite Special Forces and serving 5 years in Viet Nam. At age 11 I got my first real uniform, in the Boy Scouts. By age 14 I was an Eagle Scout with all the knowledge and experience that rank requires.

Through my childhood and youth, my Dad was always there to inspire me and to encouraging me to achieve more than he did. Entering one of the military academies would be an excellent way to go, he said! I wasn’t so sure until my last year of high school when the coach made me the quarterback. Leading our high school football team made me realize that I liked taking charge, and that I had some pretty good leadership talent. After football season was over, I made up my mind to apply for admission to both West Point and the U.S. Air Force Academy. Senator Church from Idaho appointed me to the U.S. Air Force Academy and I accepted, one of only two from my state that year. I reported for duty as a cadet summer of 1959 at the age of 18.

“The Academy was going to be tuff”, I said to myself, “but at least I can get a break at meal-times!” Little did I know! After the initial shock, I became even more determined to meet all  the mind- and body twisting challenges with nothing less than 100% full gas! Fantastic role models like my cadet flight commander, Howie Bodenhamer, and my political science instructor, Captain Edgar Puryear, gave me both inspiration and hope. My focus was to become a good leader. The recognition I received from my fellow cadets, and then, finding my name on the Commandants list for the first time and every time after, gave me further affirmation and motivation. The concepts of duty, honour, country, and service had become a part of who I was.  I graduated with a bachelor of science degree in 1963.

Joining the U.S. Army.

A refractive error in my vision was diagnosed early on, so I knew I would not be qualified for pilot training. Before long I also knew I was going to follow my father’s and brother´s footsteps, and take my commission in the Army. Upon graduation I put on my hand tailored Army tans, and walked into a new world. By the time I had completed Infantry Officer Basic Course and Ranger School at Fort Benning, Georgia, I had a new peer group, Regular Army lieutenants from West Point and colleges across the country. It felt right, and I new I had made the right choice.

My first assignment was as a platoon leader with my Dad´s old unit, the Third Infantry Division in Schweinfurt, Germany. Company B, 2nd battalion of the 30th Mechanized Infanty was a perfect place to start. An effective CO, tuff first sergeant and three other team-oriented lieutenants made for a good place to learn and develop myself as an infantry leader. First Lieutenant Dick Phillips was my new role model. He was physically tuff, highly motivated and deeply respected by the troops and officers alike. That was how I wanted to see myself.

Before my Germany tour was over,  I had also served as Battalion S3 Air, and had returned to company B, this time as the “the old man” (company commanding officer). Over a hundred men, sixteen armoured personal carriers, each with their own 50 caliber machine gun mounted, and at times there M60 tanks and crews were under my command. I carried an ivory handled 45 caliber automatic pistol, ivory swagger stick, and had my own jeep and driver, and M114 armoured command vehicle. My soldiers, officers and I proudly carried out our cold war combat ready mission. One day I heard that the soldiers in the battalion had given me a nickname, “Big Joe”.

While stationed in Germany, I had also met and married my beautiful wife, Berit, the love of my life. We met at a romantic little cabin beside the breathtaking Oslo fjord near my mother’s home town, Moss, Norway. She was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen and I did everything to charm her including playing my guitar and singing songs of lonely cowboys. When I left her and her family that day, we both knew our lives would never be the same. I think if she had known all she was getting in to, she might have quickly run the other way! Neither of us knew, but it has been an exciting adventure with more than enough struggles and joy we could ever ask for! We have now been married for 57 years, and have two sons and three grandchildren.

(If you would like to read more of this story, please check out my documents attached.)