(Page last updated Fen 08, 2024)

Ben's father, Newton was the son of Thomas Monroe and Marthia Olevia [Harris] White, of Maud Bowie County Texas. Newt married Emma Francis Foster on Feb 22, 1916, in Maud Bowie Co TX.

Ben married Mary Elizabeth [Wagnon] White, June 3, 1947, in San Antonio Texas.

His White family arrived in Bowie Co Texas in 1846, in a wagon train led by his

2xGr grandparents Elias and Anne Gibbs White, from Union Co SC.

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Ben and Mary had 4 children, 3 still living.

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Ben's siblings were:

Durward----1917-2001---m. Leola Mae Brashears-----1941

Juanita------1919-2014---m. Artie Clarence Bookout-1938

Mary Lee----1920-2004---m.1,Robert D McEwenJr----1941, 2.Andrew Lauth III-------1953

------------------------------------3.George T Anderson-----1968, 4.Rev Lowell D McClain-1995

Benjamin---1921-2007---m. Mary Elizabeth Wagnon-1947

Thomas-----1923-2014---m. Geraldine "Jerry" Givens1947

Eldridge-----1925-2023---m. Jimmie Lou Warren------1946

Virginia------1926-2011---m. Donald Leroy Kerr--------1943

Herbert------1929-1979---m. Eva Ruth Christensen----1947

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Ben was buried with military honors, a flag was presented to his son Mike.

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He was raised in the life of farming, and country. Survived the struggles of the depression years, of the 1930s, with his family of seven other siblings.

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He served in WWII, 82nd Airborne, 17th Airborne, also serving with the 101st Airborne, fighting with the French Underground resistance forces. Ben was dropped late at night behind the beaches, at Normandy, on 5th of June, 1944, about 11pm, before the beach landings on D-Day, and fought 39 days, before the Beach forces caught up to his unit. Ben is among four soldiers, out of 100, in his original company, left standing, at the end of the War, the rest of the original company, had been killed or wounded, between Normandy France and Germany. He carried shrapnel in his body until his death.

Sgt. Ben was in the 507th Airborne, of the 82nd, after D-day, the 507th was detached and placed into the 17th Airborne Div.

Their major events were D-day, Battle of the Bulge, and the Jump of the Rhine into Germany. The 507th spear-headed the attack over the Rhine. The 507th suffered the single highest casualties, of any unit in WWII, Pvt George Peter's of the 507th was awarded the Medal of Honor, over the Jump of the Rhine, he lies buried at the American Cemetery in Normandy. The units history would have gone unrecognized, were it not for a Frenchman, whose parents told him about the 507th saving their town and lives from the Germany's and the reason he was ever born, this man came to the US found the records of the 507th, stored in an obscure wharehouse, and wrote a book, left page in English, right page in French, monuments in France were raised in honor & recognition of the 507th.

He never spoke of the War, to his children, not until he was in his 70's, did he began to talk about his experiences. It was then that I realized, why he thought it necessary to keep this war from our young minds.

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Ben never returned to the country or farming, as some of his siblings had, he loved city life, and the wide circle of friends he had known over the many years of his life. His

favorite sport was fishing, many times at sea.

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HIS FATHERS DEATH INFORMATION:

Newton Johnson "Newt" White Death Record:

Birth 24 Dec 1894

Maud, Bowie County, Texas, USA

Death 5 Jul 1964 (aged 69)

Maud, Bowie County, Texas, USA

Burial: Center Ridge Cemetery Maud, Bowie County, Texas, USA

Plot C 12-06

Memorial ID- 73472197

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HIS MOTHERS DEATH/BIRTH INFORMATION:

From the Texas Department of Health Certificate of Death

Emma Frances White

Died 07/15/1985

Burial: Center Ridge Cemetery Maud, Bowie County, Texas, USA

Cert # 067433

Plot C 12-05

Memorial-ID: 73472513

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Ben's father Newt was born in Maud, and later moved to Clay Co TX, and lived a time with his brother John, in Terry Co TX. Moving to California during WWII to employ in the war effort. After the war Newt and Emma returned to Maud Texas, where they lived the rest of their lives.

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FAMILY CENSUS RECORDS:

1930 Bowie Co TX Census Clay County Precinct #2

ED Dist 39-6 Sheet No. 2b (0151) ED date: April 4 1930

by Edith Lidwell Enumerator

30 - 34

name

White, Newt J. head M W 35 M 21 no yes TX SC VA yes Farmer General Farmer

Fanny------------wife F W 36 M 22 no-yes TX AL AL--yes

Eugene ----------son M W 12--S----yes yes TX TX TX yes

Jaunita-----------dau F W 11--S---yes yes same-----yes

Mary L-------------dau F-W 10-S----yes yes same-----yes

Benjamin---------son M W 08-S---------yes-same

Thomas-----------son M W 06-S----------no-same

Eldridge-----------son M W 05-S----------no-same

Virginia------------dau F W 3 6/12 S-----no-same

Herbert------------son M W 1 3/12 S-----no-same

Note:

"The Great Depression has begun, our families

scatter about Texas to seek work. Many to return

home in later years.

1940 Bowie Co TX Census

Justice Precinct #4 ED Dist 19-30, Apr 1940

Family 49 Sheet 3A Line No. 38 , Page 548

30 - 34

White, Newt J. head M W 45 M TX Farmer Farm

Fanny-------------wife F W 46 M TX

Mary L-------------dau F W 19 S do Typist

Benjamin---------son M W 18 S do

Thomas-----------son M W 16 S do

Eldridge-----------son M W 15 S do

Virginia------------dau F W 13 S do

Herbert------------son M W 11 S do

Notes:

Uncle Gene and Aunt Juanita

have left the nest to begin their lives.

WWII is about to begin and the Uncles

will enter the services to serve their country.

1950 Fedreal Census Ben A White

home 1950; Alameda Co., Alameda CA USA

Dwelling no; 8 Farm; no, Acres; no

occupation Category; Working. Worker Class; private

household members;

-------------------Race Gender Age M relationship Wkhr Occup-----------Indust.

Ben A White------W------M-----28--m---Head--------40---GrocClk Retail GrocStore

Mary White-------W------F------29--m---Wife---------no---Home--no--no--no

Perry White-------W------M-----02--nev--Son

Michael White----W------M-----01--nev--Son

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