World War II Honoree

Benjamin F. Willis

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Washington, District Of Columbia

Honored By

Cortina M. Barnes

Relationship

Daughter

HE HAD JUST STARTED TAKING NIGHT COLLEGE CLASSES, SINCE HE WAS WORKING FULL TIME DURING THE DAY, WHEN HE WAS DRAFTED IN THE ARMY; WAS 19 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME. ORIGINALLY TOOK THE TEST WITH A POSSIBILITY FOR BEING CONSIDERED FOR PILOT TRAINING AT TUSKEGEE INSTITUTE BUT WAS SHIPPED TO THE WAR ZONE. ENDED UP IN A SEGREGATED, ALL AFRICAN AMERICAN, PORT BATTALION. THE PORT BATTALION HELPED TO GET THE SUPPLIES FROM THE FRONT TO WHEREVER THEY WERE NEEDED. WENT TO OMAHA BEACH ON A LANDING CRAFT, D-DAY PLUS 17. SERVED TO THE END OF THE EUROPEAN THEATER WAR, 1945. FROM THERE, WHILE STILL IN THE ARMY, HE WENT TO SCHOOL AND TOOK 4 CLASSES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND TO 1946 WHEN HE CAME BACK TO THE U.S.