Wilson served in World War I as Brigade HQ chief in the 2nd (Indian Head) Division and later, because he spoke fluent French, as aide-de-camp to Brigadier General Wendell Neville.

He was awarded the Navy Cross, the Silver Star, and the Croix de Guerre, and ended up with the golden oak leaf of a major.

Patrons of the arts such as Solomon R. Guggenheim, Adolph Lewisohn, Edgar Rossin, James Cox Brady, and Rodney Sharp adorned their walls with his canvases and murals.

Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne engaged Wilson in 1935 to design the costumes and sets for The Taming of the Shrew.

[4] In 1938 he began a two-year project at the Lunts' home in Wisconsin, Ten Chimneys, painting murals throughout and decorating the historical residence.