World War II Honoree

Bernard Alphonse Benoit

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Bourbonnais, Illinois

Honored By

Geralyn Benoit Staley

Relationship

Daughter

DRAFTED IN 1942 AND ASSIGNED TO THE 81ST INFANTRY DIVISION IN FORT RUCKER, ALABAMA. APPLIED FOR AND WAS ACCEPTED INTO OFFICER TRAINING CORPS (OTC) AT FORT MONMOUTH, NEW JERSEY FROM WHICH HE GRADUATED AS 2ND LIEUTENANT. NEXT ATTENDED CRYPTOGRAPHIC SCHOOL AT WARRENTON, VIRGINIA. FOLLOWING GRADUATION, WAS ASSIGNED TO THE SIGNAL CODE ROOM AT THE PENTAGON, WHERE WORKED FOR FEW MONTHS BEFORE APPLYING FOR OVERSEAS DUTY. WAS SENT TO AUSTRALIA AND ASSIGNED AS EYES ONLY COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER FOR GENERAL MACARTHUR. FOLLOWED THROUGH NEW GUINEA, HOLLANDIA, LEYTE, LUZON AND JAPAN. RETURNED FROM JAPAN IN 1946.