On February 7, 2026, an Omega Man received one of the most prestigious awards the Georgia Department of Defense can present. During a retirement celebration at the Ellenwood Readiness Center, Brother Command Sergeant Major Willie M. Wilkerson (Alpha Gamma/1960) was presented with the Oglethorpe Distinguished Service Medal. The decoration was placed on his chest by General Dennis Watts, the Commanding General of the Georgia State Defense Force. Often awarded to civic leaders and senior military personnel, Brother Wilkerson, a non-commissioned officer, received the award in recognition of his exceptional, outstanding, and long-term service to Georgia’s military organizations.
The commitment to public service is a thread which runs through Brother Wilkerson’s life. In 1963, shortly after graduating from Savannah State University with a Bachelor of Science degree, he joined the Peace Corps. Serving in the Republic of Cameroon, in West Africa, he spent two years teaching adults and children how to read and write. Upon completing duties in 1965, he was drafted into the U.S. Army where he served honorably and, in 1967, was placed in a so-called Army Reserve Control Group; men who are still considered part of the “Ready Reserve” and therefore eligible for involuntary mobilization. Brother Wilkerson maintained that status for another four years while launching his 44-year career as an educator in the Atlanta and Fulton County School systems.
After his “Ready Reserve” term ended, Brother Wilkerson joined the Georgia Army National Guard-HHC 265th Engineer Group. He served as Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant, Recruiter, S-2, S-3 and Senior Chaplain Assistant. In 1990, the 265th Engineer Group was ordered to Active Duty to support Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Brother Wilkerson was on Active Duty from November 20, 1990, to November 21, 1991. He earned more than a dozen military awards during his 26 years of service in Georgia’s Army National Guard, including the Southwest Asia Service Medal, the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. He retired in 1992 with the rank of Command Sergeant Major.
But once again, unable to resist the opportunity to serve, Brother Wilkerson joined the Georgia State Defense Force in April of 1997. The GSDF assists state and local government agencies and civil relief organizations when there’s a crisis. So, in 2020, when the COVID-19 Pandemic erupted and the death toll began soaring, Brother Wilkerson and his comrades did their duty. From March 16th through July 17th, they helped out at hospitals, nursing homes, virus sample collection locations, and food banks.
All told, Brother Wilkerson has spent nearly 60 years in uniform, and, while proud of having worn so many uniforms for so many years, he expects this retirement to be his last, unless…
