THE LUDINGTON DAILY NEWS, LUDINGTON, MICHIGAN, MONDAY, NOV. 30, 1942, FRONT PAGE & PAGE TWO
PFC. DAVID BENSON KILLED IN ACTION ON GUADALCANAL
Another gold star was added figuratively to the big service flag of this region with announcement Sunday that Pfc. David Benson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Benson of 844 First street, has been killed in action.
According to recent letters, Pfc. Benson was stationed with the U.S. Marines at Guadalcanal in the Solomon islands and was the only Mason county man definitely known to be in that sector of heavy American fighting.
The message announcing his death arrived as the Bensons were attending services at Washington Avenue Baptist church Sunday morning. The telegram, signed by Lieut. General T. Holcomb, commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, was handed by Mr. Benson to Rev. Maurice C. Lawson, who divulged its contents. Dated from Washington, D.C., it read:
"Deeply regret to inform you that your son, Private First Class David R. Benson, U.S. Marine corps, was killed in action in the performance of his duty and in the service of his country. Present situation necessitates interment temporarily in the locality where death occurred and you will be notified accordingly. Please accept my heartfelt sympathy. Letter follows."
By strange circumstances, the parents here had received notice last week that a buddy of David, serving with him at Guadalcanal, had been killed in action. Last letter received by Mr. and Mrs. Benson from David was on Oct. 19, when two other letters were enclosed, each written by a buddy but all enclosed in the one envelope because it was the only they had. The Bensons were asked by David to forward the other two letters to addresses at St. Louis, Mo., and Long Island, N.Y. They received a reply last week from the St. Louis family saying their son had just been reported killed in action and that the letter forwarded from Ludington was the last received from him.
David was born in Ludington April 27, 1921, had attended Pere Marquette grade school and Ludington high school, leaving June 11, 1940, for California. A month later he enlisted in the Marines at Los Angeles and was assigned to a training base at San Diego.
Subsequently he was sent to Mare Island base at San Francisco and from there to Hawthorne, Nev., leaving the United States in August for Far Pacific duty.
Last letter received from him was one arriving last week addressed to the Frank Budreau family, 823 East Melendy street, neighbors of the Bensons. He was still stationed at Guadalcanal then and explained he planned to write his family soon.
Youngest of seven sons, David was last in Ludington on furlough in March, 1941.
He is survived by the parents and the six brothers, Harold T. of Ludington, Albert Jr. of San Francisco, Lars T. of Ludington, Golden of Muskegon, Tellus who was stationed with the Army in England when last heard from but who is perhaps in North Africa now, and Woodrow of Muskegon.
David's death was the fourth announced death to date among Mason county boys on duty in the armed services outside of the United States. First to be reported was that of Lieut. Gerard Dawson in the Panama Canal Zone, followed by that of Sgt. Edward Ruschkewicz in England. Subsequently Ensign W. H. Cuthbertson was reported missing in action while on submarine duty in the Far Pacific. Others have been reported missing in action, but under circumstances indicating they might have escaped or might be prisoners. One other, Peter Paulukitis, died of pneumonia while in training in the United States.
Submitted by
Eric Ackerman
PFC. DAVID BENSON KILLED IN ACTION ON GUADALCANAL
Another gold star was added figuratively to the big service flag of this region with announcement Sunday that Pfc. David Benson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Benson of 844 First street, has been killed in action.
According to recent letters, Pfc. Benson was stationed with the U.S. Marines at Guadalcanal in the Solomon islands and was the only Mason county man definitely known to be in that sector of heavy American fighting.
The message announcing his death arrived as the Bensons were attending services at Washington Avenue Baptist church Sunday morning. The telegram, signed by Lieut. General T. Holcomb, commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, was handed by Mr. Benson to Rev. Maurice C. Lawson, who divulged its contents. Dated from Washington, D.C., it read:
"Deeply regret to inform you that your son, Private First Class David R. Benson, U.S. Marine corps, was killed in action in the performance of his duty and in the service of his country. Present situation necessitates interment temporarily in the locality where death occurred and you will be notified accordingly. Please accept my heartfelt sympathy. Letter follows."
By strange circumstances, the parents here had received notice last week that a buddy of David, serving with him at Guadalcanal, had been killed in action. Last letter received by Mr. and Mrs. Benson from David was on Oct. 19, when two other letters were enclosed, each written by a buddy but all enclosed in the one envelope because it was the only they had. The Bensons were asked by David to forward the other two letters to addresses at St. Louis, Mo., and Long Island, N.Y. They received a reply last week from the St. Louis family saying their son had just been reported killed in action and that the letter forwarded from Ludington was the last received from him.
David was born in Ludington April 27, 1921, had attended Pere Marquette grade school and Ludington high school, leaving June 11, 1940, for California. A month later he enlisted in the Marines at Los Angeles and was assigned to a training base at San Diego.
Subsequently he was sent to Mare Island base at San Francisco and from there to Hawthorne, Nev., leaving the United States in August for Far Pacific duty.
Last letter received from him was one arriving last week addressed to the Frank Budreau family, 823 East Melendy street, neighbors of the Bensons. He was still stationed at Guadalcanal then and explained he planned to write his family soon.
Youngest of seven sons, David was last in Ludington on furlough in March, 1941.
He is survived by the parents and the six brothers, Harold T. of Ludington, Albert Jr. of San Francisco, Lars T. of Ludington, Golden of Muskegon, Tellus who was stationed with the Army in England when last heard from but who is perhaps in North Africa now, and Woodrow of Muskegon.
David's death was the fourth announced death to date among Mason county boys on duty in the armed services outside of the United States. First to be reported was that of Lieut. Gerard Dawson in the Panama Canal Zone, followed by that of Sgt. Edward Ruschkewicz in England. Subsequently Ensign W. H. Cuthbertson was reported missing in action while on submarine duty in the Far Pacific. Others have been reported missing in action, but under circumstances indicating they might have escaped or might be prisoners. One other, Peter Paulukitis, died of pneumonia while in training in the United States.
Submitted by
Eric Ackerman
THE LUDINGTON DAILY NEWS, LUDINGTON, MICHIGAN, MONDAY, NOV. 30, 1942, FRONT PAGE & PAGE TWO
PFC. DAVID BENSON KILLED IN ACTION ON GUADALCANAL
Another gold star was added figuratively to the big service flag of this region with announcement Sunday that Pfc. David Benson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Benson of 844 First street, has been killed in action.
According to recent letters, Pfc. Benson was stationed with the U.S. Marines at Guadalcanal in the Solomon islands and was the only Mason county man definitely known to be in that sector of heavy American fighting.
The message announcing his death arrived as the Bensons were attending services at Washington Avenue Baptist church Sunday morning. The telegram, signed by Lieut. General T. Holcomb, commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, was handed by Mr. Benson to Rev. Maurice C. Lawson, who divulged its contents. Dated from Washington, D.C., it read:
"Deeply regret to inform you that your son, Private First Class David R. Benson, U.S. Marine corps, was killed in action in the performance of his duty and in the service of his country. Present situation necessitates interment temporarily in the locality where death occurred and you will be notified accordingly. Please accept my heartfelt sympathy. Letter follows."
By strange circumstances, the parents here had received notice last week that a buddy of David, serving with him at Guadalcanal, had been killed in action. Last letter received by Mr. and Mrs. Benson from David was on Oct. 19, when two other letters were enclosed, each written by a buddy but all enclosed in the one envelope because it was the only they had. The Bensons were asked by David to forward the other two letters to addresses at St. Louis, Mo., and Long Island, N.Y. They received a reply last week from the St. Louis family saying their son had just been reported killed in action and that the letter forwarded from Ludington was the last received from him.
David was born in Ludington April 27, 1921, had attended Pere Marquette grade school and Ludington high school, leaving June 11, 1940, for California. A month later he enlisted in the Marines at Los Angeles and was assigned to a training base at San Diego.
Subsequently he was sent to Mare Island base at San Francisco and from there to Hawthorne, Nev., leaving the United States in August for Far Pacific duty.
Last letter received from him was one arriving last week addressed to the Frank Budreau family, 823 East Melendy street, neighbors of the Bensons. He was still stationed at Guadalcanal then and explained he planned to write his family soon.
Youngest of seven sons, David was last in Ludington on furlough in March, 1941.
He is survived by the parents and the six brothers, Harold T. of Ludington, Albert Jr. of San Francisco, Lars T. of Ludington, Golden of Muskegon, Tellus who was stationed with the Army in England when last heard from but who is perhaps in North Africa now, and Woodrow of Muskegon.
David's death was the fourth announced death to date among Mason county boys on duty in the armed services outside of the United States. First to be reported was that of Lieut. Gerard Dawson in the Panama Canal Zone, followed by that of Sgt. Edward Ruschkewicz in England. Subsequently Ensign W. H. Cuthbertson was reported missing in action while on submarine duty in the Far Pacific. Others have been reported missing in action, but under circumstances indicating they might have escaped or might be prisoners. One other, Peter Paulukitis, died of pneumonia while in training in the United States.
Submitted by
Eric Ackerman
PFC. DAVID BENSON KILLED IN ACTION ON GUADALCANAL
Another gold star was added figuratively to the big service flag of this region with announcement Sunday that Pfc. David Benson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Benson of 844 First street, has been killed in action.
According to recent letters, Pfc. Benson was stationed with the U.S. Marines at Guadalcanal in the Solomon islands and was the only Mason county man definitely known to be in that sector of heavy American fighting.
The message announcing his death arrived as the Bensons were attending services at Washington Avenue Baptist church Sunday morning. The telegram, signed by Lieut. General T. Holcomb, commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, was handed by Mr. Benson to Rev. Maurice C. Lawson, who divulged its contents. Dated from Washington, D.C., it read:
"Deeply regret to inform you that your son, Private First Class David R. Benson, U.S. Marine corps, was killed in action in the performance of his duty and in the service of his country. Present situation necessitates interment temporarily in the locality where death occurred and you will be notified accordingly. Please accept my heartfelt sympathy. Letter follows."
By strange circumstances, the parents here had received notice last week that a buddy of David, serving with him at Guadalcanal, had been killed in action. Last letter received by Mr. and Mrs. Benson from David was on Oct. 19, when two other letters were enclosed, each written by a buddy but all enclosed in the one envelope because it was the only they had. The Bensons were asked by David to forward the other two letters to addresses at St. Louis, Mo., and Long Island, N.Y. They received a reply last week from the St. Louis family saying their son had just been reported killed in action and that the letter forwarded from Ludington was the last received from him.
David was born in Ludington April 27, 1921, had attended Pere Marquette grade school and Ludington high school, leaving June 11, 1940, for California. A month later he enlisted in the Marines at Los Angeles and was assigned to a training base at San Diego.
Subsequently he was sent to Mare Island base at San Francisco and from there to Hawthorne, Nev., leaving the United States in August for Far Pacific duty.
Last letter received from him was one arriving last week addressed to the Frank Budreau family, 823 East Melendy street, neighbors of the Bensons. He was still stationed at Guadalcanal then and explained he planned to write his family soon.
Youngest of seven sons, David was last in Ludington on furlough in March, 1941.
He is survived by the parents and the six brothers, Harold T. of Ludington, Albert Jr. of San Francisco, Lars T. of Ludington, Golden of Muskegon, Tellus who was stationed with the Army in England when last heard from but who is perhaps in North Africa now, and Woodrow of Muskegon.
David's death was the fourth announced death to date among Mason county boys on duty in the armed services outside of the United States. First to be reported was that of Lieut. Gerard Dawson in the Panama Canal Zone, followed by that of Sgt. Edward Ruschkewicz in England. Subsequently Ensign W. H. Cuthbertson was reported missing in action while on submarine duty in the Far Pacific. Others have been reported missing in action, but under circumstances indicating they might have escaped or might be prisoners. One other, Peter Paulukitis, died of pneumonia while in training in the United States.
Submitted by
Eric Ackerman
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