World War II Honoree

Benjamin F. Bayles

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Manhattan, Kansas

Honored By

Doris & Ted Prentice

Relationship

Friends

KILLED SEPTEMBER 12, 1942, WHEN A SUBMARINE SUDDENLY ATTACKED THE USS PATRICK J. HURLEY, IN THE MID-ATLANTIC WITHOUT WARNING. SERVED AS A GUN CAPTAIN ON THE SHIP. NAVY DEPARTMENT REPORTED THE GUN CREW, DESPITE THE TERRIFIC BARRAGE OF SHELL FIRE, MANNED THE GUNS AND RETURNED FIRE UNTIL THE SHIP WAS LOST. PURPLE HEART WAS AWARDED POSTHUMOUSLY, GIVEN TO HIS MOTHER.