Benjamin F. Wilson was a soldier in the United States Army.
Born on June 2, 1921 in Vashon, Washington, Wilson enlisted in the Army in the summer of 1940 and was stationed at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.
When the war was over, Wilson resigned his commission and went home.
However, after working in Washington’s lumber mills, he realized the Army suited him much better, so nine months later he reenlisted.
On June 4th, 1951, while serving in Korea, First Sergeant Wilson’s company was ordered to take the largest hill overlooking the Hwachon Reservoir.
After being wounded, Wilson was being carried down the hill on a stretcher as the battle raged on.
When his stretcher-bearers set him down to rest, Wilson arose from the stretcher and trudged back up the hill without a word.
His unit had come upon a much larger enemy force than expected.
Wilson ran into enemy fire to assist members of his unit who were pinned down and he killed four enemy fighters with his rifle and grenades.
Next, Wilson led a bayonet attack, which killed approximately 27 hostile soldiers. However, enemy forces launched another counterattack.
Realizing the threat of being overrun, First Lieutenant Wilson made a determined lone-man charge, killing seven and wounding two of the enemy.
As the fighting ensued, First Lieutenant Wilson charged the enemy lines killing three enemy soldiers with his rifle before it was wrested from his hands and killing four others with his entrenching shovel as it was the last weapon he had.
After the battle, Wilson realized he had suffered a second wound, but he remained in his position until he was assured that all of his men were safe.
First Lieutenant Benjamin F. Wilson was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions.
In 1960, Wilson retired as a Major in the U.S. Army. He passed away in 1988 in Hawaii.
Wilson is obviously a hero and this is one heck of story. After all, he finished off several of the enemy with his shovel.
To this day, many armies around the world equip their soldiers with some type of shovel that can be used for survival or as a weapon.
For this reason, I want to share with you the top survival shovels that can help save your life whether you are digging yourself out of the snow or fighting off an attacker.
SOG Entrenching Tool. With SOG Specialty Knives and Tools, you know you’re getting a high-quality tool.
The Seattle-based company is known for producing exceptional tactical gear for the U.S. armed forces and law enforcement.
The SOG Entrenching Tool is compact and perfect to go in your car or in your bug out bag.
The collapsible trifold design folds down to the size of the shovel head and is secured by a durable locking mechanism.
The SOG Entrenching Tool is a combo shovel/saw and is perfect for digging, trenching, and cutting.
It’s made of black carbon steel and is 18.25 inches long and weighs only 1.5 pounds.
IUNIO Military Shovel. The folding shovel from IUNIO was designed to be functional and reliable in any environment.
It’s 31 inches long when fully extended and folds down into a tactical waist pack that’s easy to carry.
The shovel is made from high carbon steel that’s strong and dependable, plus the rubber grip is easy to grasp, even in wet conditions.
When you’re not using it as a shovel, the tool’s other survival features include a bottle opener, fire bar, hammer, hoe, knife, nail extractor, saw, and emergency whistle.
Columbia River Trencher. Columbia River Knife and Tool (CRKT) is known for producing quality, durable knives and tools.
The Oregon-based company has a unique approach to the way it develops products.
Basically, the company works with custom blade experts all across the U.S. to design and manufacture blades and tools that are unique.
The Trencher has a three-position heavy-duty spade that features a razor-sharp wood saw on one side and a beveled edge on the other for chopping wood and roots.
In addition, the shovel has a reinforced steel tip, and the ergonomic handle will ensure you keep a steady grip while you’re working.
There’s even a wire cutter built into the textured grip.
The Trencher’s blade is constructed with 1050 carbon steel, while the handle is built with a combination of carbon steel, polypropylene, and nylon.
The Trencher is about 27 inches long and weighs 3.6 pounds.
Shovels are indispensable in survival situations, but there’s no way you can easily pack a full-size shovel on the trail or in your bug out bag.
For this reason, I would absolutely consider putting some type of collapsible shovel in your bug out gear.
