Corporal Will Wilson

Some of the fiercest fighting of the Pacific in WWII was on Iwo Jima.  Corporal Will Wilson, originally from Pittsburgh, left a family and newborn son behind when called to go to war.  His story told for all to read, reads very similar to others who served in WWII.

From the article, "He said he didn't get hurt, but many of his fellow Marines did.  "We were lucky," Wilson said. "I was no hero, we were all doing our job.""  He said a mouthful here!


Thank you for your service and sacrifice Corporal Wilson.  You are certainly one of the many "Core of the Corps!"

First Sergeant Peter P. Tolusciak

The inaugural "Core of the Corps" Marine is one I discovered some time ago and with whom I promptly became obsessed.  After a great deal of research and writing, I published an article on 1stSgt Tolusciak.   You can read it online on the History Division's website.

In the course of the research, it was discovered that 1stSgt Tolusciak, and the rest of the "Long Distance Flight" team were recommended for the Distinguished Flying Cross.  Somewhere, and for some reason unknown at this time, they did not receive the award.  However, more than 80 years later, they are again being "looked at" for the DFC.  It's received the attention of many high level USMC officials and maybe they will be remembered and appropriately decorated.

[Update: The DFC was not awarded to Tolusicak, but the article gives him credit for all the deeds he performed.]