Saturday, July 9 Wilburn Ross quietly walked into Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 2329 and sat down at the bar.

"He's here," someone said a few moments later.

As Ross sipped a glass of beer, a few people walked over to shake his hand or talk. In a soft voice that still carries a hint of his Kentucky upbringing, he acknowledged the attention. "It's nice to be here," Ross said simply.

The blue-ribboned Medal of Honor around his neck drew the attention of his fellow Servicemembers and friends.

"The attention he gets is a long time in coming," Bill Thrall, the post quartermaster, said.  "We're honored to be able to honor him today."

To that end, members of Tillicum's Post 2329 decided about two years ago to honor Ross by creating the Wilburn K. Ross Wall of Honor.  

"He's the first to be honored as such," Thrall said. "There will be others."

Before the wall was unveiled, Army veteran Dave Campbell read sections of Ross' Medal of Honor citation:

"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty near St. Jacques, France.  At 11:30 a.m. on 30 October 1944, after his company had lost 55 out of 88 men in an attack on an entrenched, full-strength German company of elite mountain troops, Private Ross placed his light machine gun 10 yards in advance of the foremost supporting riflemen in order to absorb the initial impact of an enemy counterattack."

A five-hour firefight began, and Ross held off eight German assaults.  Running low on ammunition and ordered to withdraw, Ross refused to give up.

"The Germans launched their last all-out attack, converging their fire on Private Ross in a desperate attempt to destroy the machine gun that stood between them and a decisive breakthrough.  As his supporting rifleman fixed bayonets for a last-ditch stand, fresh ammunition arrived and was brought to Private Ross just as the advance assault elements were about to swarm over his position.

He opened murderous fire on the oncoming enemy; killed 40 and wounded 10 of the attacking force."

Ross remained at his post throughout the night and into the following day for a total of 36 hours.

"His bravery that day is an inspiration for all," Thrall said.  "This is why we honor him today."