World War II Honoree

Benjamin Franklin Pearson, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Columbus, Georgia

Honored By

James O. Sweeny

Relationship

Classmate

HE ENTERED INTO ACTIVE DUTY ON DECEMBER 31, 1939. DURING WWII HE SERVED IN BOTH THE 501ST PARACHUTE AIRBORNE DIVISION AND THE 82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION. HE WAS TRAINED IN PARACHUTE JUMPING AT FORT BENNING, AND IN SEPTEMBER 1941 WAS ASSIGNED TO PANAMA. FROM THERE HE TRANSFERRED TO ENGLAND AND TOOK PART IN THE D-DAY INVASION AT NORMANDY. ON JULY 7, 1944 HE WAS AN AIRBORNE UNIT COMMANDER WHEN HE MADE A JUMP BEHIND ENEMY LINES IN GERMANY, FINALLY ESCAPING BACK TO HIS OWN LINES. DAYS LATER, A SNIPER'S BULLET ENTERED THE MASTOID BONE BEHIND HIS EAR, WHICH SURGEONS FOUND TOO CLOSE TO THE BRAIN TO REMOVE, SO IT REMAINED THERE THE REST OF HIS LIFE. FOR HIS GALLANT ACTIONS ON JANUARY 6,1945 DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE, HE WAS AWARDED THE SILVER STAR. ON JANUARY 27, 1945, HIS JEEP HIT A LAND MINE, SHATTERING HIS LEGS. HE WAS SENT HOME TO A MILITARY HOSPITAL IN AUGUSTA, GEORGIA WHERE HE SPENT TWO YEARS IN RECOVERY AND REHABILITATION. FOR HIS MILITARY SERVICE, HE ALSO RECEIVED TWO BRONZE STARS AND TWO PURPLE HEARTS.