World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Weldon Benham
Branch of Service
U.S. Navy
Hometown
Okeene, Oklahoma
Honored By
Robert S. Cox
ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE IN 1944. HIS SHIP SAILED FROM NORFOLK, VIRGINIA ON NOVEMBER 7, 1945, AFTER THE END OF HOSTILITIES, TO JOIN THE FIFTH FLEET. ARRIVED IN TOKYO BAY, JAPAN ON DECEMBER 19, 1945, FOR OCCUPATION DUTY. SERVED AS AN ENGINEER OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER ABOARD THE RADAR PICKET DESTROYER USS DYESS (DD-880). WITNESSED THE AFTERMATH OF THE ATOMIC BOMB BLAST ON HIROSHIMA, JAPAN. AWARDED THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND NAVY OCCUPATION SERVICE MEDAL WITH ‘ASIA’ CLASP. HONORABLY DISCHARGED SHORTLY AFTER THE END OF THE WAR PERIOD AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.