About

“Greatness Prevails”
Keel laid – 16 May 2023
Mast stepping – 26 September 2025
Christening – 27 September 2025

General Louis Hugh Wilson, Jr. was the 26th Commandant of the Marine Corps and a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions in Guam in 1944. Born on February 11, 1920, in Brandon, Mississippi, General Wilson attended Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi. In 1941, he enlisted in the Marine Corps and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in May of the same year, just seven months before the attack on Pearl Harbor. Following his commissioning and schooling at The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia, 2nd Lieutenant Wilson received orders to the 9th Marines out of Camp Pendleton, California. In February 1943, the 9th Marines were engaged in battles at Guadalcanal, Efate, Bougainville, and Guam. While on Guam, now-Captain Wilson, commanding Company F, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, earned the Medal of Honor for his actions on Fonte Plateau.

On July 25, 1944, Captain Wilson led his company to secure a strategically important portion of Fonte Plateau, which housed a Japanese command post. They covered 300 yards of open terrain under heavy fire to capture their objective. While organizing his nighttime defenses, Captain Wilson was shot three times before seeking medical attention. However, Captain Wilson quickly returned to his unit when the enemy launched a counterattack, participating in over ten hours of hand-to-hand combat. At one point during the battle, Captain Wilson dashed 50 yards into the open under Japanese fire to rescue one of his wounded Marines. Despite the intense fighting, Captain Wilson’s forces held the line throughout the night.

On the morning of July 26, Captain Wilson led a 17-man patrol up a nearby slope critical to defending their position on Fonte Plateau. In the face of mortar attacks and coordinated rifle and machine gun fire, which struck down 13 of his men, Captain Wilson led the remaining Marines to occupy the strategic slope. His leadership was instrumental in securing the position. Captain Wilson received the Medal of Honor for his “indomitable leadership, daring combat tactics, and dauntless valor in the face of overwhelming odds.”

 

Captain Wilson carried this ethos throughout his career and life. He earned a series of promotions and key assignments that shaped his strong beliefs regarding the moral, mental, and physical development of ordinary people into the strongest and bravest Marines. In 1975, he was promoted to General and appointed as the 26th Commandant of the Marine Corps. During his tenure, General Wilson helped establish what is recognized as the modern Marine Corps, including the Commandant of the Marine Corps becoming a permanent member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the groundwork for the creation of the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF), and the Marine Corps recruitment campaigns still in use today.

As described by his daughter, General Wilson “never settled for anything second class – he insisted on uncompromising standards of excellence. He demanded professionalism, character, integrity, good judgment, and plain hard work. He demanded of himself what he also demanded from his team.”

 

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of a rifle company attached to the 2d Battalion, 9th Marines, 3d Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces at Fonte Hill, Guam, 25-26 July 1944. Ordered to take that portion of the hill within his zone of action, Capt. Wilson initiated his attack in midafternoon, pushed up the rugged, open terrain against terrific machine-gun and rifle fire for 300 yards, and successfully captured the objective. Promptly assuming command of other disorganized units and motorized equipment in addition to his own company and one reinforcing platoon, he organized his night defenses in the face of continuous hostile fire and, although wounded three times during this five-hour period, completed his disposition of men and guns before retiring to the company command post for medical attention. Shortly thereafter, when the enemy launched the first of a series of savage counterattacks lasting all night, he voluntarily rejoined his besieged units and repeatedly exposed himself to the merciless hail of shrapnel and bullets, dashing 50 yards into the open on one occasion to rescue a wounded marine lying helpless beyond the front lines. Fighting fiercely in hand-to-hand encounters, he led his men in furiously waged battle for approximately 10 hours, tenaciously holding his line and repelling the fanatically renewed counterthrusts until he succeeded in crushing the last efforts of the hard-pressed Japanese early the following morning. Then organizing a 17-man patrol, he immediately advanced upon a strategic slope essential to the security of his position and, boldly defying intense mortar, machine-gun, and rifle fire which struck down 13 of his men, drove relentlessly forward with the remnants of his patrol to seize the vital ground. By his indomitable leadership, daring combat tactics, and valor in the face of overwhelming odds, Capt. Wilson succeeded in capturing and holding the strategic high ground in his regimental sector, thereby contributing essentially to the success of his regimental mission and to the annihilation of 350 Japanese troops. His inspiring conduct throughout the critical periods of this decisive action sustains and enhances the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.

 

Symbolism of the Ship’s Shield, Crest, Motto, and Seal

Shield. The light blue field bearing five stars represents the Medal of Honor, our country’s highest honor, awarded to Louis H. Wilson Jr. for “indomitable leadership, daring combat tactics and dauntless valor in the face of overwhelming odds.” Only 24 years old and serving as commanding officer of Company F, 2 Battalion, 9 Marines, Captain Wilson’s courageous actions on July 25 and 26, 1944 during the Battle of Guam resulted in repelling and destroying a numerically superior enemy force. Wilson initiated his attack against terrific machine gun fire and successfully pushed up the rugged open terrain. In the aftermath, Captain Wilson assumed command of disorganized units, arranged for night defenses under hostile fire, and was wounded three times before seeking medical attention. Shortly thereafter, he voluntarily rejoined his besieged units and repeatedly exposed himself to gunfire, on one occasion dashing 50 yards into the open to rescue a wounded Marine lying beyond the front lines. Fighting fiercely in hand-to-hand encounters, he led his men in furiously waged battle, tenaciously holding the line and crushing the last efforts of the Japanese. The five stars in chief refer to the Medal of Honor ribbon bar reflecting on Wilson’s contributions made on the battlefield in Guam during World War II. General Wilson’s promotion as the 26 Commandant of the Marine Corps in 1975 is symbolized by the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor between four white stars. Displayed on a red field it recalls the commandant’s positional flag and General Wilson’s dedication to the Corps, ensuring the Marine Corps remains our country’s most formidable fighting force. The vertical red stripes on a white field hearken to the Joint Chiefs of Staff identification badge, commemorating General Wilson as the first Marine with full-time member status, capping off 38-years in the Corps.

Crest. The Officer’s Mameluke and Model 1859 Noncommissioned Officer sword represent the Marine Corps’ warfighting spirit. Crossed together they represent the intensity and dedication of the USS LOUIS H. WILSON JR. (DDG 126) crew. The oak tree embodies resilience and endurance, serving as a reminder to General Wilson’s early life and the importance of establishing strong roots in overcoming future challenges. The gold compass rose symbolizes Gen. Wilson’s achievements during his lifelong service of leading the Marine Corps.

Motto. The motto, “GREATNESS PREVAILS,” honors General Louis Wilson Jr’s. personal standard to always be ready for anything by maintaining the highest levels of physical and mental readiness. Wilson demanded the best to achieve greatness through strength, resilience, endurance, leadership, loyalty, and sacrifice.

Seal. The coat of arms as blazoned in full color on a white oval, within a dark blue designation band, edged with a gold roped border and bearing the designation “USS LOUIS H. WILSON JR.” at the top and “DDG 126” at the base in gold letters.