Born the son of Wilmer Kersey Benson, Sr and Lillian Fisher Benson, and raised in Wyoming, Delaware, he was an Eagle Scout and Class Valedictorian for his high school, Caesar Rodney, Class of 1932. He entered the University of Delaware, where he graduated as Class Valedictorian in 1937, majoring in Mechanical Engineering.
Entering the US Army in June 1938, he was assigned to the 11th Engineer Brigade (Heavy Pontoon) at Corozal, Panama Canal Zone. There he met and married Virginia Cabell, daughter of LTC Derosey Carroll Cabell Jr and Edith Morgan Cabell. They were married 13 May 1939, at the Cathederal of St. Luke, Ancon, Canal Zone.
During World War II, he commanded the 1554th Engineer Battalion (Heavy Pontoon) in North Africa and Italy. Later overseas tours included Korea (1957-59) and Panama (1961-64). At the end of the war, he attended the University of California at Berkley, where he earned a Masters of Art in Nuclear Physics. His military awards include the Legion of Merit, Army Commendation Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), National Defense Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), American Defense Service Medal (with Foreign Service Clasp), American Campaign Medal, European Middle East and African Campaign Medal with 3 campaign stars, the World War II Victory Medal, the Cold War Service Medal, and the Korean Defense Service Medal (posthumously). He served in the Army from June 1938 to June 1968, retiring as one of the senior most Colonels in the Army. As his personal creed, he lived the West Point motto "Duty, Honor, Country."
After his retirement from the US Army, he worked for the Atomic Energy Commission, and later the Dept. of Energy, retiring again in 1979. In 1979, he established his own business, doing income tax returns for the elderly, which he finally sold in 1998, as his health began to fail. He died of chronic heart failure.
Entering the US Army in June 1938, he was assigned to the 11th Engineer Brigade (Heavy Pontoon) at Corozal, Panama Canal Zone. There he met and married Virginia Cabell, daughter of LTC Derosey Carroll Cabell Jr and Edith Morgan Cabell. They were married 13 May 1939, at the Cathederal of St. Luke, Ancon, Canal Zone.
During World War II, he commanded the 1554th Engineer Battalion (Heavy Pontoon) in North Africa and Italy. Later overseas tours included Korea (1957-59) and Panama (1961-64). At the end of the war, he attended the University of California at Berkley, where he earned a Masters of Art in Nuclear Physics. His military awards include the Legion of Merit, Army Commendation Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), National Defense Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), American Defense Service Medal (with Foreign Service Clasp), American Campaign Medal, European Middle East and African Campaign Medal with 3 campaign stars, the World War II Victory Medal, the Cold War Service Medal, and the Korean Defense Service Medal (posthumously). He served in the Army from June 1938 to June 1968, retiring as one of the senior most Colonels in the Army. As his personal creed, he lived the West Point motto "Duty, Honor, Country."
After his retirement from the US Army, he worked for the Atomic Energy Commission, and later the Dept. of Energy, retiring again in 1979. In 1979, he established his own business, doing income tax returns for the elderly, which he finally sold in 1998, as his health began to fail. He died of chronic heart failure.
Born the son of Wilmer Kersey Benson, Sr and Lillian Fisher Benson, and raised in Wyoming, Delaware, he was an Eagle Scout and Class Valedictorian for his high school, Caesar Rodney, Class of 1932. He entered the University of Delaware, where he graduated as Class Valedictorian in 1937, majoring in Mechanical Engineering.
Entering the US Army in June 1938, he was assigned to the 11th Engineer Brigade (Heavy Pontoon) at Corozal, Panama Canal Zone. There he met and married Virginia Cabell, daughter of LTC Derosey Carroll Cabell Jr and Edith Morgan Cabell. They were married 13 May 1939, at the Cathederal of St. Luke, Ancon, Canal Zone.
During World War II, he commanded the 1554th Engineer Battalion (Heavy Pontoon) in North Africa and Italy. Later overseas tours included Korea (1957-59) and Panama (1961-64). At the end of the war, he attended the University of California at Berkley, where he earned a Masters of Art in Nuclear Physics. His military awards include the Legion of Merit, Army Commendation Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), National Defense Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), American Defense Service Medal (with Foreign Service Clasp), American Campaign Medal, European Middle East and African Campaign Medal with 3 campaign stars, the World War II Victory Medal, the Cold War Service Medal, and the Korean Defense Service Medal (posthumously). He served in the Army from June 1938 to June 1968, retiring as one of the senior most Colonels in the Army. As his personal creed, he lived the West Point motto "Duty, Honor, Country."
After his retirement from the US Army, he worked for the Atomic Energy Commission, and later the Dept. of Energy, retiring again in 1979. In 1979, he established his own business, doing income tax returns for the elderly, which he finally sold in 1998, as his health began to fail. He died of chronic heart failure.
Entering the US Army in June 1938, he was assigned to the 11th Engineer Brigade (Heavy Pontoon) at Corozal, Panama Canal Zone. There he met and married Virginia Cabell, daughter of LTC Derosey Carroll Cabell Jr and Edith Morgan Cabell. They were married 13 May 1939, at the Cathederal of St. Luke, Ancon, Canal Zone.
During World War II, he commanded the 1554th Engineer Battalion (Heavy Pontoon) in North Africa and Italy. Later overseas tours included Korea (1957-59) and Panama (1961-64). At the end of the war, he attended the University of California at Berkley, where he earned a Masters of Art in Nuclear Physics. His military awards include the Legion of Merit, Army Commendation Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), National Defense Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), American Defense Service Medal (with Foreign Service Clasp), American Campaign Medal, European Middle East and African Campaign Medal with 3 campaign stars, the World War II Victory Medal, the Cold War Service Medal, and the Korean Defense Service Medal (posthumously). He served in the Army from June 1938 to June 1968, retiring as one of the senior most Colonels in the Army. As his personal creed, he lived the West Point motto "Duty, Honor, Country."
After his retirement from the US Army, he worked for the Atomic Energy Commission, and later the Dept. of Energy, retiring again in 1979. In 1979, he established his own business, doing income tax returns for the elderly, which he finally sold in 1998, as his health began to fail. He died of chronic heart failure.
Inscription
On the marker above his name is the Methodist Church symbol for him, and the Protestant (Episcopal) symbol for Virginia.
