World War II Honoree

Benton O. Grider

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Albany, Kentucky

Honored By

Walton R. Haddix

SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN CAMPAIGN. LANDED ON OMAHA BEACH DURING THE D-DAY INVASION. FOUGHT THROUGH NORMANDY TO SIEGFRIED LINE WHERE HE WAS WOUNDED AND MOST OF THE SQUAD WAS KILLED. CAPTURED BY FIVE GERMAN SOLDIERS AND TAKEN TO STALAG VII-A NEAR MUNICH, GERMANY WHERE HE WAS FORCED TO WORK ON RAILROAD REPAIRS WHILE SURVIVING ON ONE MEAL PER DAY OF WATERY POTATO SOUP. PRISONER OF WAR FOR 9 MONTHS UNTIL LIBERATED BY GENERAL GEORGE S. PATTON IN MAY 1945 WHO CAME CRASHING THROUGH THE GATE STANDING UP IN THE LEAD TANK.