World War II Honoree

Wilson J. Bentley

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Stillwater, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER, INCLUDING AT FORT BENNING AT COLUMBUS, GEORGIA. HIS UNIT STAGED AT FORT DIX AT WRIGHTSTOWN, NEW JERSEY AWAITING OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT. SAILED FROM THE NEW YORK PORT OF EMBARKATION ON DECEMBER 12, 1942 AND ARRIVED IN NORTH AFRICA ON DECEMBER 25, 1942. SERVED AS A CAPTAIN OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH COMPANY C, 17TH ARMORED ENGINEER BATTALION, 2ND ARMORED 'HELL ON WHEELS' DIVISION. SERVED INITIALLY IN THE NORTH AFRICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (NATOUSA). WHILE SERVING THERE, HE MARRIED AN ARMY NURSE CORPS OFFICER IN ARZEW, ALGERIA ON JUNE 30, 1943, AND THEN THEY BOTH RETURNED TO THEIR RESPECTIVE DUTY STATIONS. HIS DIVISION ASSAULTED SICILY ON JULY 10, 1943 AND DEPARTED NOVEMBER 12, 1943. HIS BATTALION ARRIVED IN ENGLAND ON NOVEMBER 25, 1943 AND BEGAN TRAINING FOR THE INVASION OF FRANCE. LANDED AT NORMANDY, FRANCE IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS ON JUNE 10, 1944 (D-DAY+4). PARTICIPATED IN THE ALGERIA-FRENCH MOROCCO, SICILY, NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE), AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 SILVER AND 2 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH ‘GERMANY’ CLASP. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.