World War II Honoree

Russell A. Benigno

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Union City, New Jersey

Honored By

Russell A. Benigno

PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. VOLUNTEERED OCTOBER 25, 1942. ARMY SPECIALIZED TRAINING PROGRAM, UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA; 106TH INFANTRY DIVISION, 422ND INFANTRY REGIMENT, 2ND BATTALION HEADQUARTERS COMPANY. SERVED AS INFANTRYMAN ON 57MM ANTI-TANK. BECAME A POW DECEMBER 21, 1944 AT THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. LIBERATED IN LEIPZIG, GERMANY APRIL 25, 1945 BY THE 69TH INFANTRY DIVISION. AS A POW, HE HAD TO PERFORM WORK FOR THE GERMANS. WORKED REPAIRING RAILROADS DESTROYED BY THE AIR CORPS; VERY DIFFICULT WORK, IN THE DEAD OF WINTER. ON A MALNUTRITION DIET HE LOST 60 POUNDS WHILE A POW. HE WORE THE SAME CLOTHING AS HE WAS CAPTURED IN DURING THE ENTIRE TIME HE WAS HELD PRISONER; A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE. DISCHARGED DECEMBER 6, 1945.