| Original caption: “Franklin D. Roosevelt, General William Wilbur; General Marshall, and General Patton in Casablanca.” United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt (January 30, 1882 – April 12, 1945), bestows the Congressional Medal of Honor on Brigadier General William H. Wilbur (September 24, 1888 – December 27, 1979) during the Casablanca Conference. The Casablanca Conference, codenamed Symbol, or Anfa Conference after the hotel venue, was held in Casablanca, French Morocco, from January 14 to 24, 1943, to plan the Allied European strategy for the next phase of World War II. On January 22, 1943, Diplomat Harold L. Hopkins (August 17, 1890 – January 29, 1946) was in conference with United Kingdom Prime Minister Leonard S. Churchill (November 30, 1874 – January 24, 1965) from 0945 Hours until 1155 Hours, returning just before 1200 Hours in order to be present when the President and the Prime Minister were photographed with the Combined Chiefs of Staff. Several photographs were taken on the terrace of the President’s villa, Dar es Saada, and then the President bestowed the Congressional Medal of Honor on Brigadier General William H. Wilbur, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action during the landing at Fedala on November 8, 1942. Under heavy fire, General Wilbur had succeeded in passing through the French lines in order to deliver certain important letters to French generals some 16 miles (26 kilometers) to the rear, and later, while returning to his own troops, had personally led a group of tanks which destroyed a French artillery unit observed to be effectively shelling our positions. The President made the presentation in the presence of Prime Minister Churchill, Army Chief of Staff General George C. Marshall Jr. (December 31, 1880 – October 16, 1959), and Lieutenant General George Smith Patton Jr. (November 11, 1885 – December 21, 1945), and upon the conclusion of the ceremony extended his personal congratulations to General Wilbur, as did the Prime Minister and Vice Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten (June 25, 1900 – August 27, 1979). Chief Photographer’s Mate Arthur C. Black (September 23, 1912 – July 4, 1976) traveled with President Roosevelt’s party and took many of the photos of the Casablanca Conference proceedings. He enlisted in the United States Navy on November 17, 1933, and commissioned as a Lieutenant on September 15, 1943. He photographed World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. He retired on January 1, 1964, and was promoted to Commander. | |
| Image Filename | wwii0711.jpg |
| Image Size | 876.76 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2286 x 2904 |
| Photographer | Arthur C. Black |
| Photographer Title | United States Navy |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | January 22, 1943 |
| Location | |
| City | Casablanca |
| State or Province | Casablanca |
| Country | Morocco |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | NLR-PHOCO-A-4822218 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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