World War II Honoree

Robert E. Benson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin

Honored By

Robert E. Benson

Relationship

Self

SERGEANT FIRST CLASS. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS FROM IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING D-DAY TO JANUARY 1946. WENT TO SCOTLAND FROM NEW YORK ON THE QUEEN MARY IN 1944. WENT BACK TO NEW YORK ON THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS LAKE CHAMPLAIN FROM SOUTHAMPTON ENGLAND IN 1946. When on leave in London in 1945 to meet a friend from the 8th air force, he had part of a concrete wall fall on him outside Covent Gardens from a V2 bomb 2 blocks away. Sustained Injuries to right ear, above both eyes and was knocked unconscious. Taken by ambulance from Red Cross club called Rainbow Gardens to St. Joe's Hospital near Buckingham Palace and Hyde St. Once discharged from the hospital, transferred to the 119th general hospital at High Barnett just outside of London, where he stayed until being sent to South Hampton. Awarded a Good Conduct Medal, the European Theater of Operations Medal and the WWII Victory Medal. Entered the service in December of 1942 and received an honorable discharge in January of 1946.