Bio
Commissioned in August 1942, Samuel V. Wilson served briefly in the Office of Strategic Services prior to being recruited into the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), Merrill’s Marauders, as an intelligence and reconnaissance officer.
He trained his men in light infantry tactics, long range patrols, swimming, stream-crossing, and receiving air resupply drops. After WWII, Wilson developed a course for the Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia based on his experiences in Burma in the 5307th.
From 1951 to 1953, Wilson served in the Special Projects Section, G-2, Army General Staff where he provided intelligence briefs to members of the Special Operations Branch of the Office of the Chief of Psychological Warfare.
In 1958-59, he wrote a course on counterinsurgency for Fort Bragg’s Special Warfare School prior to becoming its Director of Instruction.
After holding numerous high level posts in Vietnam, he served as commander of the 6th Special Forces Group from 1967 to 1968.
In 1968-1969, he developed a course, Military Advisor Operations, at the Special Warfare School, and became Assistant Commandant at the JFK Center for Military Assistance. Prior to retiring in 1977, Wilson had also been appointed Deputy to the Director of Central Intelligence and Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency.