Pfc. Robert A. Norman Born October 23, 1924 at El Paso, Illinois. Entered service October 23, 1942. Received basic training at Camp Pendleton, California. Foreign service: Bougainville, Iwo Jima. Awarded Purple Heart.Killed in action February 22, 1945 at Iwo Jima.

2nd Lt. Leory A. Wallis Born February 13, 1923 at Benson, Illinois. Enlisted in U.S. Army August, 1942. Received basic training at Camp McQuaide, California. Foreign service: European Theater. Killed in Ardennes near Grand Halliaus, Belgium on January 15, 1945.

Pfc. Howard Vogel Born June 5, 1918 at Benson, Illinois. Entered service January 17, 1941. Received basic training at Ft. Winfield Scott, California. Foreign service: 3 months in France and Belgium. Awarded American Theater, E.T.O. Sharp Shooters Badge, Purple Heart. Killed February 28, 1945 in Holland.

1st Sgt. Ernest Edward Garrels Born October 14, 1918 at Benson, Illinois. Entered service May 27, 1941. Received basic training at Camp Davis, North Carolina. Foreign service: 43 months. Discharged October 9, 1945 at Ft. Sheridan, Illinois.

Cpl. Ernest R. Backer Born December 22, 1916 at Benson. Entered service November 4, 1942. Received basic training at Camp McCoy. Foreign service: E.T.O. Awarded 5 Campaign Ribbons. Discharged March 29, 1946 at Camp Grant.

S/Sgt. Howard M. Quiram Born April 24, 1916 at Washburn, Illinois. Entered service March 23, 1943. Received basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Foreign service: European Theatre. Awarded Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal. Discharged November 25, 1945 at Camp Beale, California.

S.Sgt. Harold F. Meinhold Born July 4, 1920 at Minonk, Illinois. Entered service December 9, 1943. Received basic training at Keesler Field, Mississippi. Foreign service: Philippines, Rukurus, Japan. Award Philippine Liberation Ribbon, 2 Bronze Stars, Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon, American Theatre Ribbon, Victory Ribbon. Discharged April 10, 1946 at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri.

T/4 Mildred Jeanette Brubaker Born December 16, 1914 at Benson, Illinois. Entered service June 15, 1943. Received basic training at Ft. Oglethorpe, Georgia. Awarded Good Conduct Medal, WAC Service Ribbon, World War II Victory Medal, American Service Medal. Discharged March 2, 1946 at Ft. Dix, New Jersey.

Sgt. Robert W. Koehler Born April 22, 1923 at Minonk, Illinois. Entered service February 8, 1943. Received basic training at St. Petersburg, Florida. Foreign service: North Africa and Italy. Awarded European Ribbon, 2 Battle Stars, Good Conduct Medal. Discharged October 30, 1945 at Scott Field, Illinois.

Richard Francis Kapraun, S/2c Born September 23, 1924 in Woodford County, Illinois. Entered service January 17, 1946. Received basic training at Great Lakes.

Pfc. Wilbur H. Moritz Born January 28, 1925 at Benson, Illinois. Entered service January 14, 1944. Received basic training at Camp Grant, Illinois. Foreign service: European Theater. Awarded European African Medal, Eastern Theater Ribbon, Victory Medal, American Theater Ribbon, Good conduct Medal, 2 Overseas Bars. Discharged May 6, 1946 at Ft. Sheridan, Illinois.

Cadet Nurse Mary Elizabeth Nauman Born March 29, 1924 in Greene Township, Illinois. Entered service February 1, 1944. Received basic training at St. Joseph's School of Nursing, Bloomington, Illinois. Graduated May 28, 1946. Training will end February 1, 1947.

S/Sgt. Leroy W. Warnke Born June 8, 1920 at Benson, Illinois. Entered service August 10, 1942. Received basic training at Fort Ord, California. Discharged January 1946 at Camp Beale.

Harold Franklin de Freese, A. B. S. Born October 7, 1925 at Benson, Illinois. Entered service June 27, 1945. Received basic training at Sheepshead Bay, New York. Foreign service: West Africa.

S/Sgt. Wayne H. Norman Born March 2, 1917 at El Paso, Illinois. Entered service March 16, 1943. Received basic training at Camp Butner, North Carolina. Foreign service: Germany. Awarded Purple Heart and Cluster. Discharged December 11, 1945 at San Antonia, Texas.

Emerson G. Weber, MM 3/c Born September 15, 1918 at Benson, Illinois. Entered service July 18, 1944. Received basic training at Great Lakes, Illinois. Foreign service: Asiatic-Pacific area with one Bronze Star. Awarded American Area Victory Medal. Discharged April 13, 1946 at Great Lakes.

Sgt. Menno J. Koch Born April 14, 1911 at Benson, Illinois. Entered service August 27, 1943. Received basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Foreign service: European and Pacific Theatres. Awarded 5 Ribbons, Silver Star. Discharged January 2, 1946 at Camp Grant, Illinois.

2nd Lt. Donald W. Meinhold Born March 7, 1922 at Minonk, Illinois. Entered service August 19, 1942. Received basic training at Miami Beach, Florida. Discharged September 29, 1945 at Ft. Sheridan.

S/Sgt. Lyle P. Heineke Born February 14, 1925 at Normal, Illinois. Entered service April 17, 1943. Received basic training at Reesler Field, Mississippi. Foreign service: South Pacific (New Guinea-Dutch East Indies-Leyte-Luzon-Ie Shima). Awarded Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon and 8 Battle Stars, Air Medal and 2 Oakleaf Clusters, Philippine Liberation Ribbon and 1 Battle Star, American Theater Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal. Discharged October 29, 1945 at Ft. Sheridan.

Bobbie Harms, F 1/c Born October 3, 1925 at El Paso, Illinois. Entered service August 2, 1945. Received basic training at Great Lakes, Illinois. Foreign service: Pacific Area, Guam. Awarded Victory Ribbon, Campaign Ribbons, Bars. Discharged July 19, 1946 at Great Lakes, Illinois

Sgt. Vernell S. A. Folkers Born October 21, 1910 at Benson, Illinois. Entered service August 31, 1942. Received basic training at Camp Wheeler, Georgia. Foreign service: 1 year European Theatre. Awarded Normandy and Northern French Campaign, European, African Middle Eastern Theatre, Ribbon with 2 Bronze Stars, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Good Conduct Medal and the Purple Heart. Injured twice. At 5 camps in N. States, Fort George Meades, Maryland Hill, Virginia, Northern Michigan, Camp McCoy, Wisconsin. Discharged May 16, 1945 at Percy-Jones General Hospital, Battle Creek, Michigan.

Sgt. Heye J. Harms Born December 3, 1915 at Benson, Illinois. Entered service July 14, 1942. Received basic training at Camp Robinson, Arkansas. Foreign service: 1 year 2 months 14 days. Awarded Asiatic-Pacific Theater Campaign Ribbon W/1 Bronze Star, American Theater Campaign Ribbon, Victory Ribbon, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, W/1 Bronze Star, 2 Overseas Service Bars. Discharged January 17, 1946 at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri.

Capt. Robert E. Shields, Corp of Engineer U.S. Army Born August 20, 1915 at Benson, Illinois. Enlisted in U.S. Army at Peoria, Illinois January 1942. Received basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Foreign service: Asiatic Pacific. Awarded Asiatic Pacific Theatre Ribbon, 2 Bronze Stars, Bronze Arrowhead, American Theatre Ribbon, Victory Ribbon. Discharged March 1946 at Jefferson, Missouri.

SP Agent James P. Shields Born June 24, 1913 at Benson, Illinois. Entered service April 11, 1941. Received basic training at Camp Custer, Michigan. Foreign service: Czechoslovakia. Awarded five Battle Stars in E.T.O., Victory Ribbon, Combat Infantry Badge. Discharged August 14, 1945 at Ft. Sheridan, Illinois.

Ralph Manley, Ph M 3/c Born January 24, 1927 in Benson, Illinois. Entered service January 20, 1945. Received basic training at Great Lakes, N.T.S. Discharged July 8, 1946 at Great Lakes, Illinois.

Wesley W. Warnke, F 1/c Born October 10, 1925 at Benson, Illinois. Entered service January 15, 1946. Received basic training at Great Lakes, Illinois. Foreign service: South Pacific.

Donald D. Koehler, S 3/c Born July 16, 1927 at Benson, Illinois. Entered service February 1, 1945. Received basic training at Great Lakes, Illinois. Foreign service: Philippine Islands. Awarded Victory Medal, Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign, Philippine Libereation Ribbon, American Area Campaign Medal. Discharged July 14, 1946 at Great Lakes, Illinois.

Granville John Oltman, AEM 2/c Born July 20, 1914 at South Benson, Illinois. Entered service January 26, 1944. Received basic training at U.S. Naval Training Station, Farragut, Idaho. Awarded American Theater Operations Ribbon, Victory Ribbon. Discharged December 19, 1946 at Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida.

Pfc. Winfield C. Koch Born April 12, 1921 at Benson, Illinois. Entered service November 7, 1944. Received basic training at Camp Blanding, Florida. Foreign service: 18 months England, France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany. Awarded E.T.O. and Good Conduct Ribbons, 5 Battle Stars. Discharged October 20, 1945 at Camp Grant, Illinois.

Pvt. Robert D. Koch Born June 20, 1926 at Benson, Illinois. Entered service March 7, 1946. Received basic training at Jos. T. Robinson, Little Rock, Arkansas. Foreign service: Japan (July 2, 1946).

Raymond Henry Nauman S 2/c Born January 9, 1926 in Greene Township, Illinois. Entered service January 17, 1946. Received basic training at Great Lakes. Stationed (at present) at Little Greek, Virginia, to go over-seas before long.

Pfc. Carl I. Janssen Born December 24, 1922 at Benson, Illinois. Entered service October 28, 1942. Received basic training at Camp Robinson, Arkansas. Foreign service: France (2 years), Belgium, Luxemburg Germany. Awarded E.T.O. Ribbon, 4 Battle Stars, Bronze Star Medal, Good Conduct Medal. Discharged October 25, 1945 at Ft. Frances E. Warren, Wyoming.

Dewayne E. Haase S 1/c (RM) Born September 9, 1926 at Benson, Illinois. Entered service January 25, 1945. Received basic training at Great Lakes Naval Training Station. Discharged July 13, 1946 at Shoemaker, California.

Cpl. Wayne T. Patterson Born January 30, 1923 at Benson, Illinois. Entered service in U.S. Marine Corp November 10, 1942. Received basic training at Marine Corp Base in San Diego, California. Foreign service: 24 months South Pacific Theatre. Awarded Presidential Citation, Asiatic-Pacific, American Theater, 3 Stars. Discharged November 30, 1945 at Great Lakes, Illinois.

Pfc. Lloyd Earl Haase Born July 14, 1924 in Benson, Illinois. Entered service March 31, 1943. Received basic training at Camp Callan, California. Foreign service: European Theater, 18 months. Awarded Northern France, Central Europe, Ardennes, Rhineland. Discharged January 5, 1946 at Camp Grant, Illinois.

Capt. Boniface J. Mayer Born December 15, 1921 at Metamora, Illinois. Entered service June 1, 1942. Received basic training at Cadet Training in San Antonia, Texas. Foreign service: Panama, China, Burma India. Awarded D.F.C. Air Medal. Discharged July 11, 1946 at Fort Sheridan.

T/5 Milburn D. Eckhoff Born January 4, 1911 in Stover, Missouri. Entered service May 7, 1942. Received basic training at Camp Robinson, Arkansas. Foreign service: 3 years, Persian Gulf Command (Iran). Awarded Middle East Ribbon, 6 Overseas Bars. Discharged November 8, 1945 at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri.

S/Sgt. Gilbert Vogel Born October 30, 1921 at Benson, Illinois. Entered service September 19, 1942. Received basic training at Camp Walters, Texas. Foreign service Newfoundland. Awarded American Theatre, Expert Infantry Badge. Discharged November 4, 1945 at Camp Polk, Louisiana.

Pvt. Irvin Franklin Slane Born August 19, 1906 at Minonk, Illinois. Entered service January 19, 1942. Received basic training at Scott Field, Illinois. Died at home in Benson, Illinois on February 8, 1942.

Sgt. Lester Ernest Tjaden Born at Benson, Illinois. Entered service June 18, 1942. Received basic training at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. Discharged October 5, 1943 at Kearns, Utah.

Milton Floyd Ekiss Momm 3/c Born July 31, 1926 at Roanoke, Illinois. Entered service January 4, 1945. Received basic training at Great Lakes. Foreign service: 14.5 months. Awarded American Theatre, Philippine Campaign, Asiatic Pacific 1 Star, Victory Medal. Discharged July 1, 1946 at Great Lakes.

Sgt. Martin D. Moritz Born November 30, 1914 at Benson, Illinois. Entered service February 20, 1941. Received basic training at Percido, California. Foreign service: European Theatre. Awarded Purple Heart, European-African Middle Eastern Theatre Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Ribbon, 3 Bronze Stars, Presidental Citation, Victory Medal. Discharged June 11, 1944 at Percy Jones Hospital, Battle Creek, Michigan.

Richard B. Wolfe, Yeomen 2nd Class Born May 2, 1924 in Eureka, Illinois. Entered service October 26, 1942. Recieved basic training at Great Lakes Naval Training Center. Foreign service: Pacific War area aboard U.S.S. Missouri. Discharged May 17, 1946 at Great Lakes, Illinois.

T/Sgt. Wilbert C. Norman Born March 23, 1919 at El Paso, Illinois. Entered service November 13, 1939. Received basic training at Mitchell Field, New York. Foreign service: S.W.P. Theatre 39 months, E.T.O. 13 months. Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal (4 Oak Leaf Cluster), Asiatic-Pacific Theatre Ribbon (4 Battle Starts), European Theatre Ribbon (3 Battle Stars), American Difense Ribbon (1 Bronze Star), Good Conduct Ribbon, Presidental Unit Citation (4 Oak Leaf Clusters), Five oversears bars. Discharged October 15, 1945 at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin.

S/Sgt. Martin J. Gerdes, Jr. Born December 5, 1913 at Minonk, Illinois. Entered service April 1, 1941. Received basic training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Foreign service: 27 months Pacific Hawaii, New Guinea, Dutch East Indies, Philippines. Awarded Bronze Star, Good Conduct, American Defense, Asiatic-Pacific, Philippine Liberation. Discharged October 10, 1945 at Fort Sheridan, Illinois.

Cpl. Milford C. Stine Born June 26, 1919 at Benson, Illinois. Entered service June 28, 1941. Received basic training at Camp Walters, Texas. Discharged November 15, 1945 at Ft. Belnoir, Virginia.

Cpt. James Ford Born November 5, 1923 at Weston, Illinois. Entered service December 7, 1943. Received basic training at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. Awarded American Theatre Good Conduct, Victory Ribbon. Discharged April 7, 1946 at Fort Sheridan, Illinois.

Sgt. Bernard C. Sastman Born May 27, 1926 at Benson, Illinois. Entered service January 4, 1945. Received basic training at Camp Walters, Texas. Foreign service: Philippine Islands. Awarded Meritorious Service Award, Good Conduct, Asiatic-Pacific, Victory Medal. Discharged July 10, 1946 at Ft. Sheridan, Illinois.

Sgt. Virgil Ray Oltman Born August 13, 1921 at North Benson, Illinois. Entered service September 21, 1944. Received basic training at Camp Wallace, Texas. Foreign service: 2 years India, Burma, China. Awarded Good Conduct, Asiatic-Pacific. Discharged October 23, 1945 at Sheppard Field, Texas

Pvt. Robert L. Oltman Born June 27, 1926 at Benson, Illinois. Entered service March 6, 1946. Received basic training at San Antonia, Texas.

Pvt. Donald Monk Born December 13, 1920 at Benson, Illinois. Entered service January 5, 1942. Foreign service: Trinidad 2 years 2 months 1 day. Discharged October 15, 1945 at Sioux City, Iowa.

Next pageVeterans of theBenson Community