World War II Honoree

Paul S. Benton

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

East Palestine, Ohio

Honored By

Rose Benton

Relationship

Wife

SERVED AS A PRIVATE 1ST CLASS AND A RADIO OPERATOR WITH THE U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS, STATIONED IN ENGLAND. VOLUNTEERED WITH SEVEN OTHER RADIO OPERATORS TO TRANSFER INTO THE NEWLY FORMED FIRST ALLIED AIRBORNE ARMY AND TO FORM TWO AIR SUPPORT TEAMS TO GO WITH THE 10,000 MEN OF THE BRITISH FIRST AIRBORNE DIVISION AS PART OF OPERATION MARKET GARDEN. RECEIVED MINIMAL GLIDER TRAINING AND DROPPED INTO THE ARNHEM AREA WITH THE FIRST LIFT ON SEPTEMBER 17, 1944. CAPTURED AFTER NINE DAYS AND HELD AS A PRISONER OF WAR PERFORMING LABOR FOR THE ENEMY FOR SEVEN MONTHS. SERVED TWO YEARS AND NINE MONTHS. AWARDED TWO BATTLE STARS AND ONE BRONZE ARROWHEAD.