Determined Young Man From Owensboro, KY Makes Dream of Serving His Country Come True

You know the old saying that goes "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again?" There is no better example of that than Preston Wilson of Owensboro.  He just celebrated his 20th birthday and for his whole life, all he has ever dreamed of is serving his country by joining the military.

As a child, he was fascinated with movies and books about the armed forces. Inspired by the bravery of the men and women in those stories, as he grew up, he felt an overwhelming passion to follow the lead of those who came before him.

It's Not "No," It's Just "Not Yet"

After graduating from Daviess County High School in 2022, Preston tried to join the U.S. Marine Corps. Due to a minor medical reason that will never negatively affect his performance, he was denied. He never gave up. He kept his head up and tried a few other branches of the military, but no one was willing to give him a chance. His mother Leslie Wilson told me, "He would come home after meeting with recruiters and you could tell he was beaten down but he would say, 'It's not no, it's just not yet.'"

Never Take "No" For an Answer

For two years he persevered, never taking no for an answer.  About a month ago, Preston walked into SSG Corey Moore's office of the Kentucky National Guard. "He was resilient and told me was going to join the military come hell or high water. He must have told me “I’ll leave for Basic tomorrow,” 30 times," SSG Moore said.

What he needed was for someone with connections and influence to sign a waiver of the previous medical diagnosis. With letters of support from former educators and help from some high-ranking officials and Congressman Brett Guthrie's office, he was finally approved.

The Big Day

On February 7th, 2024 in a small and sacred ceremony, PV1 Wilson was sworn in at the Louisville Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS.) As he took his oath, there wasn't a dry eye in sight. SSG Moore shared, "I have never seen a kid so happy to get this opportunity. I am SO HAPPY for this kid for finally getting exactly what he’s always wanted: a chance to serve his country."

What Happens Next?

PV1 Wilson will attend boot camp in Missouri and then fly to the Goodfellow Air Force Base in Texas for advanced training. Once completed, he will serve as a 12M or MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) Army Firefighter. "For Preston, it has always been about a calling in his heart to serve his country no matter how." He'll be playing an important role in keeping people and property safe, responding to fire emergencies on land and sea, and performing rescues.

Just Gotta Keep Grinding

In true Preston form, he is sharing his story not for attention or praise, but to hopefully help others who may be going through a similar situation.  He said, "There's a lot of people like me. My story is nothing special. Just gotta keep grinding. Keep going."

I'm not so sure about that "nothing special" part though. I think about how he was initially dismissed for what is essentially a non-issue and how often doors were closed in his face after that. The circumstances may have stopped someone who wasn't as determined and he deserves to be celebrated.  I can't think of a better type of person to serve among the greatest in our country.

He's My Hero For Sure

Of course, PV1 Wilson's friends and family are all so incredibly proud of him. His mom was beaming as she spoke about how he has overcome obstacles along his journey, "He's always so humble. He's my hero for sure." SSG Moore said, "The Kentucky Guard is getting a good one!"

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