World War II Honoree

Thomas W. Benson

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Boone, Iowa

Honored By

A Grateful Nation

SECOND LIEUTENANT. POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE NAVY CROSS AND PURPLE HEART FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN THE LINE OF HIS PROFESSION AS A PILOT FOR MARINE SQUADRON 221, DURING THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY ISLANDS ON JUNE 4, 1942. WHILE FIGHTING AGAINST JAPANESE BOMBER AND FIGHTER AIRCRAFT, VASTLY SUPERIOR IN NUMBERS, LIEUTENANT BENSON FEARLESSLY PRESSED HOME HIS ATTACK, THEREBY SERIOUSLY DISRUPTING THE PLAN OF THE ENEMY, LESSENING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THEIR ATTACK, AND CONTRIBUTING GREATLY TO THEIR DEFEAT. AS A RESULT OF THIS HEROIC ACTION AND BECAUSE OF CIRCUMSTANCES ATTENDANT TO THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY ISLANDS, THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT THAT HE GALLANTLY GAVE UP HIS LIFE IN THE SERVICE OF HIS COUNTRY. HIS NAME IS MEMORIALIZED AT THE HONOLULU MEMORIAL, HONOLULU, HAWAII.