World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Edward Peter Benezech, Jr.
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
New Orleans, Louisiana
Honored By
Washington Artillery Veterans Association
ENTERED ACTIVE DUTY ON 13 JANUARY 1941, FROM THE LOUISIANA NATIONAL GUARD AT JACKSON BARRACKS, NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA. SERVED AS STAFF OFFICER AND FIELD ARTILLERY BATTERY COMMANDER. DEPARTED FOR AFRICA ON 20 AUGUST 1943 AND LANDED IN NORTH AFRICA ON 2 SEPTEMBER 1943, THEN TO NAPLES, ITALY ON 25 NOVEMBER 1943. LANDED ON ANZIO, THEN TO ROME AND SOUTHERN FRANCE; LANDING IN GERMANY AND ENDED THE WAR IN INNSBROOK, AUSTRIA. DEPARTED TO THE UNITED STATES ON 16 OCTOBER 1945 AND ARRIVED ON 26 OCTOBER 1945. RELIEVED FROM ACTIVE AT FORT SILL, OKLAHOMA, WITH THE RANK OF CAPTAIN ON 16 APRIL 1946. AWARDS/CITATIONS: EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN SERVICE MEDAL WITH 5 BRONZE STARS AND 1 BRONZE ARROWHEAD, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, CROIX DE GUERRE WITH 1 SILVER STAR, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN SERVICE MEDAL AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. BATTLES AND CAMPAIGNS: NAPLES-FOGGIA, ROME-ARNO, SOUTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, ANZIO AND CENTRAL EUROPE.